DLNR Plans Animal Control Activities

Animal control activities will be conducted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The controlled activities will include trapping mouflon and feral sheep hybrids, staff hunting, aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon, and feral sheep hybrids within palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, and the Ka’ohe Game Management Area.

According to the DLNR, aerial shooting is required for compliance with the federal court order mandating the removal of sheep and goats from critical habitat for palila, who is endemic to the state.

Control operations will be conducted on the following dates:

• Oct. 15 and 16
• Nov. 16 and 17
• Dec. 14 and 15

Access to the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve from Waikahalulu gulch, north Kemole, and east to Pu’u Kole, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, the Ka’ohe Game Management Area, and Mauna Kea Hunter Access Road will be restricted to the public, with the exception of permit-only access for animal salvage at 7 a.m. on Oct. 15, Nov. 16 and Dec. 14, and 6 a.m. on Oct. 16, Nov. 17, and Dec. 15.

Mauna Kea Observatory Road will remain open.

The actions are in alignment with HAR§ 13-130-19 and § 13-104-23(a) (3).

Closure of the area during the scheduled time is necessary to limit the danger of incompatible users in the forest area and to safely conduct animal control activities.

Hale Pohaku and Kilohana gated entrances to Unit A and G as well as the gate behind the Mauna Kea Recreation area, will be closed and reopened on the following schedule:

• Locked at 8 p.m. October 14, 2015, and reopened at 7 p.m. October 16, 2015
• Locked at 8 p.m. November 15, 2015, and reopened at 7 p.m. November 17, 2015
• Locked at 8 p.m. December 13, 2015 and reopened at 7 p.m. December 15, 2015

Those interested in receiving salvage permits should call the DLNR DOFAW Kamuela Office at 887-6063 from 9 a.m. on Oct. 7 to 10 a.m. the day before each shoot day.

One permit will be provided per vehicle for one day only.

Applicants are permitted to add their names to a stand-by list for days in addition to their permit date. Standbys maybe not allowed to wait at gates for access.

Information, including the driver, occupants, vehicle license plate, and make/model of vehicle is needed when calling in for a permit.

A maximum of 15 permitted vehicles will be allowed at the Ahumoa location and a maximum of 10 permits will be allowed at the Pu‘u Mali location per day.

Carcasses taken during the shoot will be available to the permitted public, and there is no guarantee that animals will be able to be salvaged.

Salvage locations are subject to change:

• On October 15, November 16, and December 14 at Ahumoa. Permittees must meet at Kilohana Check Station at 7 a.m.
• On October 16, November 17, and December 15 at Pu’u Mali. Permittees must meet at Kuhio Hale (Hawaiian Homes Hall – Waimea) at 6 a.m.

For more information regarding salvage meat or permits, contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife in Hilo at 974-4221 or in Kamuela at 887-6063.