HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0386.005 2010-2012Murashige, Laura
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From: mikagawa @hawaii.rr.com
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 10:0810A
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: mikagawa @hawaii.rr.com
Subject: Support for and recommended modifications to Bill 112, deer <"7 c
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TO: Council of the County of Hawai'i ,, ' C.3
Environmental Management Committee
FROM: Mary Ikagawa, Kailua
October 3, 2011
RE bill 1 1 2 : Recommend much higher fine than $2,000; prohibiting transport within the
island, possession, and feeding; and including ALL deer species
Aloha,
1
As part of my Master's thesis in botany at UH, I have been mapping the current range of
mouflon on Hawai'i island and also reviewing the policies and practices that led to the
enormous expansion of mouflon range across the island. Based on Maui's experience, deer
will be a much greater burden on agriculture and considerably more difficult to get rid of
once established.
My review of the State of Hawai'i statutes and rules reveals that the State has no
vertebrate pest policy as such. Therefore the County Council is well advised to protect
the island to the extent possible by using its powers of regulation, and to assign very
significant penalties for breaking these regulations. People who can afford to fly deer
around in helicopters are unlikely to be deterred by a minor fine. They already know what
they're doing is not okay, but they're doing it anyway. Impounding the transport vehicle
and fining tens of thousands of dollars sends a message that the County is serious about
this, that food security is a priority, as is the preservation of watersheds and native
ecosystems that are a unique asset of Hawai'i's people. Therefore actions will not be
tolerated that place an enormous burden on the public so someone can satisfy their own
recreational preferences by releasing whatever they want into the environment.
Hawaii has much in common with Australia and New Zealand when it comes to the burden of
vertebrate pests. The Australian state of Queensland has a comprehensive, simple -to-
understand pest policy that Hawai'i would do well to use as a model. Their fines for
releasing species of deer that are already established (which includes axis deer), are up
to $40,000. For species not commonly present the fine is up to $80,000. It is illegal to
introduce, feed, keep, or release axis deer in Queensland. It should be illegal in Hawai'i
County to have possession of, import to the island, transport within the island, feed or
release any deer —no species of which are established on the island. $50,000 or more is
not an unreasonable penalty for illegal actions that could have such far - reaching,
burdensome consequences to the island and the whole state.
Why limit this bill to axis deer? Kauai has mule deer that could be brought to the Big
Island; just because Kauai has not yet experienced the broader problems evident on Maui
doesn't mean there is no environmental threat from mule deer. There are many variables
affecting how long it takes an invasive species to balloon in population. I suggest
including ALL deer for now, and continuing to participate in a comprehensive overhaul of
County and State pest policy that will slow the drain on capacity resulting from the lack
of an effective policy framework.
Sincerely,
Mary Ikagawa
Kailua
1
Comm. No. 3 gG. 'S-
RO. To: pi CMG
Ref. Date. OCT 4 2aim