HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.155 2024-2026From: Rachel McDulin
Sent: Friday, July 4, 2025 4:30 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony Supporting Bill 51
Aloha a Councilmembers,
I strongly support Bill 51, which prohibits feeding feral animals on County property, to protect Hawai`i's endangered
wildlife and public health. As someone deeply concerned about the devastating impact of feral cats on native species,
I've witnessed firsthand how feeding sustains these harmful populations.
Toxoplasmosis, spread only through cat feces, has killed endangered nene goslings, Hawaiian monk seals, and other
native wildlife. Just this year, a nene gosling died after ingesting cat food in Lili'uokalani Gardens —a preventable tragedy.
Feral cats also attract other destructive animals like pigs and goats, which tear up parks and degrade critical habitat.
Feeding them only worsens the problem, creating unsafe conditions for families and further endangering species already
on the brink.
Hawai'i is the extinction capital of the world, and we cannot afford to enable invasive predators through misguided
compassion. Permitting feeding, even with regulations, would only prolong the harm. The County must not endorse
practices that undermine decades of conservation work and taxpayer -funded recovery efforts.
Bill 51 is a necessary step toward protecting our native ecosystems and ensuring public spaces remain safe and clean. I
urge you to pass this bill without exemptions —our wildlife and future generations depend on it.
Mahalo for your service.
Sincerely,
Rachel McDulin
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