Title this "More little old ladies causing trouble" OR "Cat Lovers VS Endangered Natural Wildlife Lovers."

This story just was posted by the Hawaii DLNR - reminded me of something posted by another member yesterday in another category.

This will likely make some cat lovers angry. This report was made today (April 18, 2023) by Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources.

"CAT FEEDING PROTEST RESULTS IN TWO CITATIONS FOR ILLEGAL TAKE OF NĒNĒ

Two women were cited by officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources (DOCARE) tonight during a protest by feral cat activists.

About 50 people, some carrying large bags of cat food, showed up in a rear parking lot of the Queens’ Marketplace Shopping Center at Waikoloa, to protest the property owner’s decision to have three cat feeding stations removed, after being warned by DLNR that cat food was attracting nēnē, the Hawai‘i State Bird. The situation came to the attention of DLNR from concerned citizens.

Both women, with Waikoloa addresses, were cited for prohibited take of endangered species (HRS 195-D), after they allegedly put bowls of cat food on the ground. Both women were also informed by a Queens’ Marketplace security officer that they were trespassing and were no longer allowed anywhere on the property. A third woman was issued a warning after being spotted pouring cat food into bowls behind a shed.

A local feral cat feeding group mobilized about 50 people to protest the decision to stop feeding feral cats at Waikoloa.

DLNR along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), has legal responsibility for protecting native Hawaiian species, including our nēnē. Nēnē are listed as an endangered species under Hawai‘i state law and are listed as a threatened species under federal law.

Law enforcement is required to take action to prevent feeding of nēnē, which is considered illegal take (a negative impact on a threatened or endangered species). Additionally, in this case the landowner is not supportive of establishing or maintaining feeding stations on their property.

Feral cats can be serious predators of our native species and can vector deadly diseases including toxoplasmosis. For this reason, the DLNR has previously noted its support for keeping cats indoors and not feeding or maintaining cat colonies, as described in Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council Resolution 19-2, supporting the keeping of pet cats indoors and the use of peer-reviewed science in pursuing humane mitigation of the impacts of feral cats on wildlife and people.

In a statement issued today DLNR said, “As animal lovers, we strongly believe that keeping cats indoors is better for cats and better for the native wildlife, including the nēnē, for which we are responsible.”

Waikoloa citations (April 18, 2023)" -------------------------

Note: I'm leaving off the long video of the incident that was posted by the DLNR.

The video showed the whole arrest process, right down to the cat ladies spelling out their names, phone numbers, and the last 4 of their social, etc., so I won't repost that. The video does show that the cat feeders were knowingly breaking the law and were going against the wishes of the property owner, by gathering 50 people with a plan to heckle the police officers doing their job.

My opinion is that if they love these cats so much, they should take them home or create a cat sanctuary like they have on Lana'i. ( lanaicatsanctuary.org )

If you are curious about the use of "take" in the report, here is an explanation:

Pursuant to State of Hawai‘i endangered species law, codified in Chapter 195D, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS), it is unlawful for any person to “take” an endangered or threatened species of aquatic life, wildlife, or land plant. “Take” means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect endangered or threatened species of aquatic life or wildlife, or to cut, collect, uproot, destroy, injure, or possess endangered or threatened species of aquatic life or land plants, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct (Section 195D-2, HRS).

Believe it or not, this is a real thing that happens in Hawaii. Just a couple of weeks ago, a woman was arrested for putting a nēnē goose in a bag and transporting it by car. You can't do that. Now, chickens.... that's another story!