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I understand this predation on Shearwaters by Feral cats has been going
on for some time in
Makena State Park. Such action is not tolerated on Oahu where animals
killing Shearwaters are immediately dispatched by the Department of Land
and Natural Resources.
In spite of state park rules to the contrary cited as an addendum a number of cat colonies are maintained in the park by a few local people.
The remains of an adult Wedge Tailed Shearwater found in a nesting burrow
June 3, 2008 on the Puu Olai.
§§13-146-41 Wildlife. No person
shall molest, disturb, injure, trap, take, catch, possess, poison,
introduce, or kill any wild bird or mammal,
or disturb their habitat except when authorized by federal, state, and
county laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations. [Eff 4/16/90; am and comp
June 08 1999] (Auth: HRS §§184-5) (Imp: HRS §§184-5)
I am aware of no rules which allow cats to living and breeding with
a state park.
§§13-146-32 Public property. (a) No person shall destroy,
deface, or remove any natural or historical feature or natural or historical
resource. (b) No person shall intentionally or wantonly destroy, injure,
deface, remove, disturb, or possess in any manner any public building,
sign, equipment, monument, marker, or other structure. (c) A person may
gather or collect for personal use, reasonable quantities of natural products
of a renewable nature, including, but not
limited to, seashells, fruits, berries, flowers, seeds, pine cones,
seaweeds, driftwood, and marine objects of natural origin; provided, that
the board or 146-12 its authorized representative may establish seasons
for picking of plums on Kauai. No person shall gather or collect these
products for the purpose of sale. The quantities of these products may
also be restricted by the board or its authorized representative. (d) A
person may only gather dead material on the ground for use as
fuel in campsites or picnic areas, except where gathering is prohibited
by the board or its authorized representative by the posting of appropriate
signs. (e) No person shall destroy, dig, remove, or possess any tree, shrub
or other plant, except for noxious weeds, as defined in chapter 4-68 unless
authorized by the board or its authorized representative. (f) A person
may gather or collect small quantities of pebbles or small rocks by hand
for personal use, except in prohibited
areas which shall be posted. The quantities of these items, however,
may be restricted by the board or its authorized representative. No person
shall collect these objects for the purpose of sale. (g) No
person shall introduce animals, fish, or plants, including their
reproductive bodies, into the premises. (h)
No person shall possess or use a mineral or metal detector, magnetometer,
or other metal detecting device except on sand areas of beaches. [Eff 4/16/90;
am
and comp June 08 1999] (Auth: HRS §§184-5) (Imp: HRS §§184-5)
Park regulations are clear about cats. “No person shall... introduce,
or kill any wild bird or mammal, or disturb their habitat....”
Cats are not native and clearly introduced. They are known to kill indigenous species of birds, i.e. Wedge Tailed Shearer as but one example. Cat presence disturbs the habitat of ground nesting birds.
The four or five Feral cat colonies within Makena State Park need to be removed immediately.
Special consideration was given to the birds utilizing a pond restoration. The area was fenced in an effort to keep the cats out. The two other ponds in the state park do not offer similar protection to their bird population.
It is well established that the Wedge Tailed Shearwater is annually decimated by the cats when it attempts to nest on the Pu Oli in the park.
The shearwaters returned in early April as they do every year. Numbers
are down but nevertheless some nest were successful. On June 3, 2008 a
visit to one nesting site revealed the remains of an adult shearwater within
the burrow. Three or four skulls which may have been a previous year were
found strewn on the hillside below the burrows give testimony to the decimation
of these birds in prior years..
Toxoplasmosis is not passed from person-to-person, except in instances of mother-to-child (congenital) transmission and blood transfusion or organ transplantation. People typically become infected by three principal routes of transmission.
* Foodborne
* Animal-to-human (zoonotic)
* Mother-to-child (congenital)
* Rare instances
Animal-to-human (zoonotic) transmission
Cats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis. They become infected by eating infected rodents, birds, or other small animals. The parasite is then passed in the cat's feces in an oocyst form, which is microscopic. (Emphasis added)
Kittens and cats can shed millions of oocysts in their feces for as long as 3 weeks after infection. Mature cats are less likely to shed Toxoplasma if they have been previously infected. A Toxoplasma-infected cat that is shedding the parasite in its feces contaminates the litter box. If the cat is allowed outside, it can contaminate the soil or water in the environment as well.
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-borne and Enteric Diseases
(NCZVED)
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-76
Atlanta, GA 30333
Call:
1 (800) CDC-INFO (232-4636)
TTY: 1 (888) 232-6348
FAX: (770) 488-4760
E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
(Editors note for additional information to add to this website.
Need to cite Wisconsin study on predatory nature of wild cats..... probably
have the citation
article whatever may be easier to find on internet through search. )
There are at least six distinctive cat colonies maintained in Makena
State Park. These are viable reproducing colonies that perpetuate themselves
and eliminate a need for any wildlife plan concerned with native endangered
species. Shearwaters and other species are a part of these cats diet.
Just testing you! That is a mongoose and not a cat. The two work effectively to eliminate ground nesting birds. I doubt if either has much impact on the rat population which mainly comes out at night.
"Not as good as that Shearwater but at least I don't have to run it down!"
The cat feeding stations within the park are in contravention to the
provisions of park rule: §13-146-41 Wildlife. No person shall molest,
disturb,
injure, trap, take, catch, possess, poison, introduce, or kill any
wild bird or mammal, or disturb their habitat except when authorized by
federal, state, and county laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations. [Eff
4/16/90; am and comp June 08 1999] (Auth: HRS §184-5) (Imp: HRS §184-5)
§13-146-42 to 13-146-49 (Reserved)
Interestingly park officials show no interest in the enforcement of
this rule while making the feeding of humans with heated food a violation
of a supposed park rule regarding fire.
Contacts if you want to make your views known: Stewards of Makena
Friends of Makena State Park was formally formed in 2003 to assist the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources in the stewardship of Makena State Park.
Membership is open to anyone interested in the stewardship of the unique natural resource that constitutes Makena State Park situated on the island of Maui in the Hawai 'i Islands. The world famous nude beach known as Little Beach is contiguous to Makena State Park.
To declare your membership and to receive the electronic newsletter
of
Dr. Leisure's Friends of Makena State Park click this link: LittleBeachMaui-subscribe@topica.com
and send a blank email.
Dr. Leisure's Friends of Makena State Park
PO Box 1137
Kihei, HI 96753
808-250-4160
--Dr. George R. Harker can be reached by email at drleisure1@aol.com.
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