HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.249 2024-2026From: Kassandra Talamantez
Sent: Saturday, July 5, 2025 8:19 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony Supporting Bill 51
Aloha a Councilmembers,
I write in strong support of Bill 51, which seeks to prohibit the feeding of feral animals on County of Hawaii property. As
someone who has worked in conservation for over four years, I've witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of feral
cats on our native species, from nene to forest birds. This bill is a critical step toward protecting our fragile ecosystems
and upholding our kuleana to preserve Hawai'i's unique biodiversity.
Feeding feral cats sustains populations that prey on endangered wildlife and spread deadly diseases like toxoplasmosis,
which has already claimed the life of a nene gosling in Lili'uokalani Gardens. I've seen these cats threaten native species
from mountain summits to coastal areas —they simply do not belong in our wild spaces. Permitting feeding, even with
regulations, only perpetuates the problem by encouraging abandonment and prolonging the harm to our native species.
Our parks and public lands should be safe havens for both wildlife and our community, not hotspots for invasive species.
The accumulation of cat feces and food waste creates unsanitary conditions that risk public health and further endanger
protected species. Bill 51 aligns with science -backed conservation goals and decades of work to recover Hawai'i's native
ecosystems.
This isn't about lacking compassion —it's about redirecting that compassion to our critically endangered native species
that have no defense against these invasive predators. I urge you to pass Bill 51 without exemptions for feeding. Our
native wildlife, from nene to forest birds, cannot afford further delays.
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Mahalo for your service and commitment to protecting Hawai'i's natural heritage.
Sincerely,
J
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[Your Name]
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-Kassandra Talamantez
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9,cf. Tc:
Ref.P�eve JUL 2025