Division of Forestry and Wildlife

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Joint News Release

For Immediate News Release February 16, 2016     

Talk Story Sessions Set for Rodent and Mongoose Control
and Eradication Methods to Protect Native Habitats

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will hold a series of talk story sessions about methods to control and eradicate invasive rodents and mongooses to protect native species in Hawaii.  The agencies are co-leads in developing a draft programmatic environmental impact statement, which will analyze the impacts of and alternatives to controlling these invasive animals for the protection of native wildlife, plants, and habitats that support them.

“Introduced rodents and mongooses in Hawaii pose a significant threat to many of Hawaii’s native plants and animals,” said Suzanne Case, Chairperson of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. “It is important that we have a discussion with a wide variety of interested people so we can comprehensively address the damage these rodents and mongoose have on Hawaii’s ecology, culture, and way of life.”

“We really want to hear what communities would like us to consider in this analysis, including what methods should be considered and what are some alternatives,” said Mary Abrams, Field Supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Methods to control rodents and mongooses in urban and agricultural areas currently exist, but those tools and methods aren’t always effective or available for use in conservation areas.  This process will look at rodent and mongoose control efforts worldwide, and document the most appropriate ones that could be used in Hawaii.”

The talk story sessions will be held on the following dates and islands:

Oahu from 6:30 to 8 p.m.:

• February 25 (Thursday) at the McKinley High School cafeteria located at 1039 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96814
• March 17 (Thursday) at Hale Ponoi located at 91-5420 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707

Molokai from 5:30 to7:30 p.m.:

• March 1 (Tuesday) at the Mitchell Pauole Center located at Ainoa Street, Kaunakakai, HI 96748

Lanai from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.:

• March 3 (Thursday) at Lanai Public Library located at 55 Fraser Ave, Lanai City, HI 96763

Kauai from 6 to 8 p.m.:

• March 7 (Monday) at the Waimea Neighborhood Center at 4556 Makeke Road, Waimea, HI 96796
• March 8 (Tuesday) at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Cafeteria at 4431 Nuhou Street, Lihue, HI 96766

Maui from 6 to 8 p.m.:

• March 10 (Thursday) at Lahaina Civic Center at 1840 Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina, HI 96761
• March 11 (Friday) at Kahului Community Center at 275 Uhu Street, Kahului, HI 96732

Hawaii from 6 to 8 p.m.:

• March 14 (Monday) at University of Hawaii-Hilo, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Komohana Research and Extension Center (conference rooms A and B) located at 875 Komohana Street, Hilo, HI 96720  
• March 15 (Tuesday) at West Hawaii Community Center located at 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

In addition to these talk story sessions, the public is invited to submit written comments through April 7, 2016.  Comments may be made to either agency for joint consideration in the following ways:

Electronically: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2015–0026.

• U.S. Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R1–ES–2015–0026; Division of Policy and Directives Management;
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.
• Website: https://www.removeratsrestorehawaii.org click on “Get Involved” and enter a comment.
   

Once the comment period closes, both agencies will review the comments received and begin development of the document. For the Service, comments previously submitted during the first comment period do not need to be resubmitted. The draft programmatic environmental impact statement will be published in both the Federal Register and the Environmental Notice and provide another public comment period for review. For more information: https://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/nativerestoration/   or  https://www.removeratsrestorehawaii.org.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov/pacific, or connect with us through any of these social media channels at facebook.com/USFWSPacific,  flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/,  tumblr.com/blog/usfwspacific  or twitter.com/USFWSPacific.

The mission of the Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources is to “Enhance, protect, conserve and manage Hawaii’s unique and limited natural, cultural and historic resources held in public trust for current and future generations of the people of Hawaii nei, and its visitors, in partnership with others from the public and private sectors.” For more information, visit www.dlnr.hawaii.gov or at facebook.com/hawaiiDLNR.

Media Contact:

Christine Ogura
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(808) 282-9442
[email protected]

Dan Dennison
Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources
Senior Communications Manager
Office of the Chairperson-Communications Office
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 131
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 587-0407

[email protected]