HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.168 2024-2026From: meredith miller o c-)
Sent: Friday, July 4, 2025 10:17 PM
To: Council Testimony ca
Subject: Testimony Supporting Bill 51
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Aloha a Councilmembers,:
I write in strong support of Bill 51, which seeks to prohibit the feeding of feral animals on County of Hawai@ropexty.
This amendment is urgently needed to protect our endangered native species, safeguard public health, and uphold our
shared kuleana to steward Hawai'i's lands and ecosystems responsibly. -
Feeding feral animals, especially cats, on public lands has already contributed to the deaths of multiple endangered and
protected species. In April 2024, a one -month -old nene gosling died from toxoplasmosis, a parasite spread only through
cat feces. This gosling had never left the boundaries of Lili'uokalani Gardens and was documented eating cat food
alongside feral cats fed daily in the park. These feeding sites are rarely cleaned. Feces accumulate, contaminating the
soil, washing into ponds where families fish, and creating an unsanitary environment that threatens both human and
wildlife health.
Feral pigs also pose a serious and well -documented threat to County parks. In 2022, former Parks Director Maurice
Messina testified that pigs had torn up public parks so severely it looked like "somebody took a D9 [bulldozer] to this
park! These animals have destroyed fields, damaged playgrounds, disrupted cemeteries, and rendered large areas
unusable. Messina reported that most of the island's 270 park facilities had been affected. Despite this, people continue
to dump food scraps, drawing pigs into community spaces and increasing damage to infrastructure, habitat, and public
safety.
Feral goats, especially prevalent in West Hawai'i, are also sustained by intentional food dumping. Goats are destructive
grazers that strip native vegetation, hinder forest regeneration, and accelerate erosion. In parks and open space, they
damage landscaping, destabilize trails, and fragment critical habitat used by native birds. Food intentionally left behind at
transfer stations, parks, and trailheads encourages unnatural gatherings and increases human -wildlife conflict,
undermining restoration efforts by County and State agencies.
Feral chickens have become a widespread nuisance across Hawai'i. Their constant crowing disrupts neighborhoods and
parks, their droppings pose sanitation and health risks, and their foraging damages landscaping and native vegetation.
Nen2 Research and Conservation has documented a concerning rise in eye parasites in. protected species like the nene,
possibly linked to feral chickens. Senate Bill 2401, signed into law on July 1, 2024, mandates the Hawai'i Department of
Agriculture to work with counties to control feral chickens, providing $50,000 per county in matching funds. Honolulu
has already taken action, posting signs in public parks discouraging feeding. Hawai'i County must do the same.
Section 15-1 of the Hawai'i County Code states that our parks are intended to be "safe, beautiful, and accessible for the
enjoyment of all members of the community." This includes children, kupuna, and those who are medically vulnerable.
Irresponsible feeding practices make these spaces unsafe. They expose people to zoonotic diseases and attract animals
to roadways and paths, increasing the risk of injury.
Some members of the cat community have proposed including a provision to allow permitted feeding of feral animals on
County property. We strongly oppose this. Permitted feeding sustains feral animal populations, encourages animal
abandonment, and directly contradicts the intent of Bill 51. If the County formally sanctions feeding through a permit
system, it should also be prepared to assume full legal liability for the foreseeable harm caused by these animals —
including the take of protected species, damage to public property, and threats to public health. Hawai'i County cannot
claim a commitment to conservation while endorsing practices that actively undermine it.
Bill 51 also aligns with state conservation goals. The Hawai'i Invasive Species Council and DLNR have repeatedly
emphasized that feeding non-native animals undermines efforts to control invasive populations. It contradicts decades of
public investment in native species recovery, habitat protection, and ecological restoration.
This bill is not about punishing compassion. It is about ensuring that good intentions do not lead to harmful outcomes.
Feeding feral animals on public property has resulted in the preventable deaths of endangered species, degradation of
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public spaces, and threats to community health. The modest fines included in Bill 51 are essential to allow enforcement
and create accountability.
Bill 51 is a reasonable and necessary step toward safer, healthier, and more ecologically resilient public spaces in Hawaii
County. I respectfully urge you to pass this bill without delay.
Mahalo for your leadership and service.
Sincerely,
Lee & Meredith Miller