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R45. HO Z
COMM. Q51
From: Joy Enos
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2025 3:09 AM COUNTY CLERK
To: Council Testimony COUNTY OF HAWAI' I
Subject: Testimony Opposing Resolution 140-25 RECEIVED
Time 10: Ii 0•M • By
Date MAY 1 9 2025
Dear Council Members,
I urge you to oppose Resolution 140-25, which proposes awarding $50,000 in grant funds to Aloha
Animal Alliance Hawaii for their Trap -Neuter -Return -Manage (TNRM) initiative. Decades of scientific
research —including studies conducted in Hawaii —demonstrate that TNRM is an ineffective, costly, and
environmentally damaging approach to managing feral cat populations.
Continued support for this method threatens endangered native wildlife, endangers public health, and
may expose the County to legal liability. TNRM fails to reduce cat populations. Population modeling in
Hawaii shows that even under ideal conditions, TNRM takes decades to achieve population
reductions —and only if there is no new cat abandonment. In practice, the ongoing abandonment and
immigration of cats into colonies prevents any meaningful progress. In contrast, direct removal
strategies are faster, more cost-effective, and result in real population declines. TNRM sustains
environmental harm. Feral cats are documented predators of native species, including endangered
birds. Colonies persist near critical habitats, and there are confirmed cases of nene and seabird deaths
due to feral cats. TNRM leaves these colonies intact, allowing predation to continue unchecked. In
summary, funding TNRM is a poor use of public resources. It does not address the root problem, and
instead perpetuates harm to wildlife and public health. I respectfully urge the Council to vote no on this
resolution and instead fund science -based strategies that result in measurable reductions in feral cat
populations.
Mahalo,
Joy Enos
Comm. '7 ' ��
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