HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0731.022 2010-2012 PICoUNtL
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Cl2)4(4:73I
Bill No.261 ' - �I G' 57
To: County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and Council Members
From : Aileen Yeh/Leslie Wung Ranch/Aileen's Nursery, 942 W. Kawailani St., Hilo, HI
Date: June 2, 2012
Subject: Opposition to Proposed Aerial "Hunting" Ban
I oppose the proposed ban on aerial "hunting". From the perspective of a farmer, nursery owner,
rancher, and someone who values our native forests, proposing to restrict an effective method of
controlling invasive animal species is not appropriate.
I lived on Lana'i in 1977 through 1979 while working for Dole—Lanai Plantation. At that time, deer
were a problem in the plantation, particularly during dry times. The Plantation would have emergency
deer hunts when the populations got too big.After living on Lanai, and being acquainted with other
landowners, ranchers, nursery businesses,foresters, and groups who do native vegetation restoration
work, as well as farm on islands that have deer, it is clear that we do not want deer on our beloved
island. The sheep, goats and pigs are bad enough.
Feral ungulates know no boundaries.The ability of the deer to jump over tall fences, and go through
barbed wire fences makes them more difficult to contain or exclude. For the cattle industry, because
the axis deer eat grass, they would compete with the cattle for forage. This would be especially terrible
in the drier areas of Ka'u and Kohala where there is often drought.
I have a plant nursery, and raise native plants and forest trees. Many farmers on Molokai have tried to
raise the trees and plants, and they have told me that the deer are their main problem. Maui nurseries
in Kula have to make sure they close their gates, because deer come in and eat their plants which are
being grown for outplanting in native forest restoration areas.
The deer are very agile, and smart, and can hide. I think that it is necessary to do aerial hunting in
remote, difficult to reach areas,whether for deer, sheep or goats. Please think about the long term
effects of having deer hiding and breeding, and multiplying in remote areas, as is already the case with
feral sheep, goats and cattle. I was appalled and saddened to hear that deer are now on Hawaii island,
and that there may be over 100 deer on the island.
I think that we need to do all that we can to eliminate the deer completely from this island. Because
of the size,topography and vegetation of our island, we need to work fast, efficiently,and use every
tool possible to eradicate the axis deer before they spread all over the island,and become impossible
to control,as has occurred with coqui. Aerial ungulate control is an essential tool in watershed and
native forest protection because of the difficulty and hazard for on ground hunters to access and
travel through these wilderness areas.
Please think about this realistically. In terms of hunter safety, efficiency,and the potential impact
on Hawaii's agriculture and conservation efforts.We need to allow DLNR to do what is necessary to
minimize or eliminate these invasive and destructive animals from destroying our resources.
Mahalo for your time. Call or email me if you have any questions. aveh @hawaii.rr.com. Ph 936-2671
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