The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife is conducting animal control activities on Hawaii Island on designated dates in July and September.
These planned activities are specifically for trapping mouflon/feral sheep hybrids; staff hunting, and/or aerial shooting from helicopters of feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids.
These activities will take place within palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, as well as in the Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, Palila mitigation lands, and the Kaohe game management area.
Aerial shooting is required for compliance with the federal court order mandating the removal of sheep and goats from critical habitat for palila, a bird endemic to Hawaii.
Control schedule dates are July 5 and 6, and Sept. 20 and 21. Public access to Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, Palila Mitigation Lands, Kaohe Game Management Area and Mauna Kea Hunter Access Road will be restricted and allowed by permit only for animal salvage purposes on the following dates: July 5 and Sept. 20 at 7 a.m., and July 6 and Sept. 21 at 6 a.m.
To implement the closure, both Hale Pohaku and Kilohana gated entrances to Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and Kaohe Game Management Area, and the gate behind Mauna Kea State Recreation Area will be locked July 4 at 7 p.m. and reopened July 6 at 7 p.m. and locked Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. and reopened Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.
The Mauna Kea Observatory Road will remain open. The temporary closure is needed to minimize the dangers of incompatible uses in the forest area and safely conduct animal control activities.
Copies of the map illustrating the area subject to aerial shooting on these dates are available for inspection at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife Office.
Due to high public participation, telephone call-ins to the DOFAW Waimea Office at 887-6063 for receiving salvage permits will be conducted from June 29 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. the day before each shoot day. One permit will be issued per call per vehicle for one day only.
Applicants can have their names added to a stand-by list for additional days, should all slots not be filled by other applicants. No standbys waiting at the gates will be allowed access. The driver, occupants, vehicle license plate, and make/model of vehicle are needed when calling in. A maximum of 15 permitted vehicles will be allowed at the Ahumoa location and 15 permitted vehicles at the Puu Mali location.
Carcasses taken during the shoot will be available to the permitted public for salvage.
For salvage locations and more information, call DOFAW in Hilo at 974-4221 or Waimea at 887-6063.
