Rodent and Mongoose Control in Native Ecosystems in Hawaii: DLNR/U.S. Fish & Wildlife

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Restoring Native Ecosystems: Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Rodent and Mongoose Control in Native Ecosystems in Hawaii Ka `ena Point Natural Area Reserve. A restored native ecosystem after rodents and mongooses were removed. Photo: DLNR What's the Need? Since their introduction to the Hawaiian Islands, rats, mice, and mongooses have decimated populations of native plants and animals as well as negatively impacted Native Hawaiian cultural practices that rely on them. Currently, there is no comprehensive resource available for land managers to evaluate methods for rodent and mongoose control, and where possible and necessary, eradication in conservation areas. Additionally, methods to effec- tively control rodents and mongooses in urban and agricultural areas exist, but need to be adapted for conservation areas. How Will the Need be Addressed? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Hawai`i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) are co -leads in preparing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). The PEIS is a planning document land managers can use to analyze the impacts of and alternatives to control or eradicate, where possi- ble and necessary, invasive rodents and mongooses to protect na- tive wildlife, plants, and the ecosystems that support them. This planning document will: • Use integrated pest management (IPM) to: • Assess if pests are negatively impacting native species and management goals; • Evaluate available control or eradication methods, giving consideration to the human environment; • Implement the selected method(s); • Monitor the target pest, non -target species, and native species to determine the effects of the method(s); • Be based on sound ecological principles; • Be in compliance with State and Federal pesticide laws and regulations; • Be compatible with and safe for all natural resources and the human environment; • Take into consideration impacts to cultural rights, practices, and resources. What the PEIS Will Do The document will address rodent and mongoose control and eradication needs in these ways: • For informational and planning purposes only. It provides options for management methods. The decision to use the document is up to the project; • Improve and facilitate rodent and mongoose control on Federal, State, and private lands through the IPM process; • Establish standards and principles for rodent and mon- goose control and eradication; • Provides efficiencies for future site-specific NEPA compli- ance process by reducing delays, paperwork, and redun- dancies. What the PETS Will Not Do The document will not: • Provide project- and/or site-specific analyses, permits or authorization; • Provide project -specific compliance with laws and regulations for project -level planning; • Does not stop ongoing rodent and mongoose control and/or eradication projects conducted in compliance with State and Federal pesticide laws and regulations; • Does not initiate any specific action or project. Geographic Scope Being Considered The document is currently considering the State of Hawai`i and National Wildlife Refuges in Hawai`i and elsewhere in the Pacific. What Else Should Be Considered? We are seeking comments on the following topics: • What resources would benefit from rodent and mongoose control or eradication? • What control or eradication methods should be consid- ered? • What alternatives (combination of methods and geo- graphic scope) could be proposed? • What impacts of these alternatives need to be looked at? • When should or should not certain methods be consid- ered? • How should impacts be addressed? February 2016