Maile's District 21 Blog

Joint News Release  

For Release:  February 16, 2016

Talk Story Sessions Set for Rodent and Mongoose Control and Eradication Methods to Protect Native Habitats

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will hold a series of talk story sessions about methods to control and eradicate invasive rodents and mongooses to protect native species in Hawai‘i.  The agencies are co-leads in developing a draft programmatic environmental impact statement, which will analyze the impacts of and alternatives to controlling these invasive animals for the protection of native wildlife, plants, and habitats that support them.

“Introduced rodents and mongooses in Hawaii pose a significant threat to many of Hawai‘i’s native plants and animals,” said Suzanne Case, Chairperson of the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources.  “It is important that we have a discussion with a wide variety of interested people so we can comprehensively address the damage these rodents and mongoose have on Hawai‘i’s ecology, culture, and way of life.”   “We really want to hear what communities would like us to consider in this analysis, including what methods should be considered and what are some alternatives,” said Mary Abrams, Field Supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Methods to control rodents and mongooses in urban and agricultural areas currently exist, but those tools and methods aren’t always effective or available for use in conservation areas.  This process will look at rodent and mongoose control efforts worldwide, and document the most appropriate ones that could be used in Hawai‘i.”   The talk story sessions will be held on the following dates and islands: Oahu from 6:30 to 8 pm:

• February 25 (Thursday) at the McKinley High School cafeteria at 1039 S King Street, Honolulu, HI 96814
• March 17 (Thursday) at Hale Ponoi at 91-5420 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, HI 96707

Moloka‘i from 5:30 to7:30 pm:

• March 1 (Tuesday) at the Mitchell Pauole Center at 90 Ainoa Street, Kaunakakai, HI 96748

Lana‘i from 5:30 to 7:30 pm:

• March 3 (Thursday) at Lana‘i Public Library at 555 Fraser Ave, Lana‘i City, HI 96763

Kaua‘i from 6 to 8 pm:

• March 7 (Monday) at the Waimea Neighborhood Center at 4556 Makeke Road, Waimea, HI 96796
• March 8 (Tuesday) at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Cafeteria at 4431 Nuhou Street, Lihu‘e, HI 96766

Maui from 6 to 8 pm:

• March 10 (Thursday) at Lahaina Civic Center at 1840 Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina, HI 96761
• March 11 (Friday) at Kahului Community Center at 275 Uhu Street, Kahului, HI 96732

Hawai‘i from 6 to 8 p.m.:

• March 14 (Monday) at University of Hawai‘i-Hilo, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Komohana Research and Extension Center (conference rooms A and B) located at 875 Komohana Street, Hilo, HI 96720
• March 15 (Tuesday) at West Hawai‘i Community Center located at 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.

In addition to these talk story sessions, the public is invited to submit written comments through April 7, 2016.  Comments may be made to either agency for joint consideration in the following ways:

• Electronically: http://www.regulations.gov <http://www.regulations.gov> . Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2015–0026.
• U.S. Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R1–ES–2015–0026; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.
• Website: http://www.removeratsrestorehawaii.org click on “Get Involved” and enter a comment.

For More Information:  

Christine Ogura, 808-282-9442 <christine_ogura@fws.gov>

Dan Dennison, 808-587-0407

Once the comment period closes, both agencies will review the comments received and begin development of the document.  For the Service, comments previously submitted during the first comment period do not need to be resubmitted.  The draft programmatic environmental impact statement will be published in both the Federal Register and the Environmental Notice and provide another public comment period for review.

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