HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0382.016 2016-2018 From: Laurel Gregory COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Council Resolution 250-17 Testimony against .
Date: Tuesday,September 05,2017 4:01:43 PM `"' :
Dear Sirs,
I would like to voice my opposition to the passage of Council Resolution 250-17, regarding
the use of"predator control" by a private contractor at the Kealakehe Wastewater Plant. Even
Cyanotech's agent, John Scott Waddington, states the endangered coots and stilts "seem to be
thriving at the sewer plant", despite the predation by mongoose, egrets, and feral cats.
I particularly object to the use of the Doc 250 traps - they are indiscriminate killers, even the
birds under protection could fall victim. Mr. Waddington states that the mongoose outnumber
the local cats in the vicinity by 30 to one. A baited trap may attract mongoose, but is also
going to attract other cats who under normal circumstances never go near the wastewater plant
or the coot and stilt nesting areas. A TNR(trap, neuter, and release) non profit group has been
active in the Kona area since 1999. Why not give them permission to neuter the cats that
currently live at the wastewater plant. According to Mr. Waddington's report, how many cats
are we actually talking about?
I question the use of these "humane" kill traps, and wonder if they are even legal under Hawaii
State Law?And why the Doc250, when there is (even if they are legal)the Doc 150, which the
New Zealand government sanctions use for smaller animals than cats - (rats and weasels).
Nowhere in the information that I could find were either of these lethal traps sanctioned for
cats.
Finally, I have seen the growth of the egret populations on the Kona side in the several years
and understand that they are hard on ground nesting birds - taking their eggs and young
chicks. However- I don't think you can predict the "kill" rate of blasting away at them. They
seem to be quite clever, and I would guess that after a while they will relocate their own
roosting sites to somewhere else, and then what- do your "contract" assassins start firing away
on other property, public or private?
Sincerely,
Laurel Gregory
Hawaii County resident
Laurel Gregory, Librarian
Library & Learning Center
Hawaii Community College at Palamanui and UH Center West Hawaii
73-4225 Ane Keohokalole Hwy
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
or
UH Center West Hawaii
PO Box 1327
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
Comp No® ,382.I
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