COM 0295.007 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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STATUS REPORT COUNTY OF HAWAH FERAL PIG CONTROL PILOT PROJECT JULY 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2007 1.0 PROJECT DESCRH'TION This project was implemented by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (APHIS-WS) under cooperative service agreement number 07-73-15-6072-RA with the County of Hawaii, Department of Research and Development (R&D). APHIS-WS entered into this agreement to assist the R&D in providing wildlife damage management (WDM) services to residents, agricultural farms and public institutions within the County of Hawaii that are posed with human health and safety threats, nuisance, property damage and agricultural damage associated with feral pigs. This 12-month pilot project was implemented per Council Resolution 134-07 to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a government sanctioned, island wide feral pig control program. This report covers APHIS-WS activities from July 1 to December 31, 2007. 2.0 PERSONNEL HOURS APHIS-WS personnel spent 2,983 hours constructing cage traps, doing site visits and conducting control activities to remove nuisance pigs which posed problems within communities and small, noncommercial agricultural farms. This project provided funding for four Wildlife Specialist positions based out ofAPHIS-WS facility in Hilo. The initial intent of APHIS-WS was to employ two personnel to service the eastern side of the island, and two for the west, to better assist communities in need and reduce the travel time needed for servicing properties. However, due to staffing complications and budget shortfalls with another County of Hawaii project (Coqui frog spray teams and loan sprayer program) that ended on September 30, 2007, APHIS-WS decided to retain the existing staff to service the feral pig project. All of the existing staff was stationed at the Hilo APHIS-WS facility. 3.0 FINANCIAL EXPENDITURES The total authorized budget for this pilot project was $250,000. A projected $157,354 was budgeted for salaries/benefits, $4,984 for official travel, $20,800 for vehicle maintenance/repair, $14,227 for consumable supplies, $36,900 for equipment, and $15,735 for APHIS-WS administrative overhead. As of December 31, 2007, a total of $139,906, or 56% of the total budget, have been spent on the various budgetary line items. Table 1 outlines expenditures by category for the first and second County fiscal quarters, as well as projected expenditures for the third and forth quarters. 4.0 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION From July 1 to December 31, 2007, APHIS-WS received a total of 401 calls regarding feral pig damage. Of these calls, 290 of them were in need of trapping assistance and 111 calls were for general information on feral pigs. In most cases, information that was disseminated to the general public included suggested fencing specifications to promote Comm: NI[ eu~aq S 7 Ref. To: IC ~G Ref. Date JAN8 9~RR