The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Island Conservation, and other Lehua Island Restoration Project partners became aware of social media posts, photos and video that show dead fish or birds that posters claim were killed by a rodenticide currently being used to eradicate non-native, damaging (invasive) rats from the island. However unlikely the connection, the project partners take any potential risks to non-target species and marine life, extremely seriously.
News Releases
HONOLULU -- As summer draws to a close and Labor Day weekend beckons for outdoor activities, the Department of Land and Natural Resources wants to encourage everyone, especially those with pets, to practice safe fun in the sun. Help protect our natural environment and always properly dispose of any trash on land and sea.
HILO -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife will conduct an ungulate control program at Puu Waawaa Mauka (above Mamalahoa Highway), during three consecutive weekends in September: Labor Day weekend Sept. 2-4, Sept. 9 and 10, and Sept. 16 and 17. During these dates hiking will not be permitted.
HILO -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) this month will conduct animal control activities specifically for trapping mouflon/feral sheep hybrids; staff hunting, and/or aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids within palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A), Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K), Palila Mitigation Lands, and the Kaohe Game Management Area (Unit G) on the island of Hawai‘i.
(Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i) – The second scheduled aerial application of a rodenticide to eliminate invasive rats from the State Seabird Sanctuary on Lehua Island was successfully completed today. As with the first helicopter application on August 23rd, this second application began at first light and was complete in about three hours.
(Honolulu) – The final stage of work to remove rockfall hazards along the exterior and interior slopes of the iconic Diamond Head State Monument will begin September 18, 2017. This phase will focus on the summit hiking trail, and is expected to be completed by early December 2017.
(HONOLULU) – Today, hope reigns for Lehua Island, as an operation commenced to make the island’s threatened wildlife safe from introduced, damaging, invasive rats. DLNR and its partners carried out carefully made plans to remove the invasive rats with support from Native Hawaiian and local communities. Dozens of Federal and State permits affirming that the operation poses very little risk to people, marine mammals, fish, sea turtles, birds, or other wildlife were secured in advance of the operation.
HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will be holding two public information meetings on Hawaii island this month on sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation. The first meeting will take place in Hilo this week on Thursday, August 17, 2017, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Aupuni Center Conference Room, located at 101 Pauahi Street.
(Honolulu) – The now famous Hawaiian monk seal pup who spent the past 44 days on busy Kaimana Beach in Waikiki was successfully relocated by a team of expert handlers and veterinarians this morning. Named ‘Kaimana’, the young seal weaned from her mother ‘Rocky’ midday Friday.
(Honolulu) - For several hours this afternoon, ‘Rocky’ the mother of the Hawaiian monk seal pup ‘Kaimana’ has not been spotted at Kaimana Beach. This may indicate that Rocky has weaned her pup, but it’s too soon to know for sure.