Hunters caught smuggling axis deer and sheep

[Carey]

Oink, Florida must have strange carnivore deer.... ;~)

The main reason WHY there were sooo many federal & local authorities that did not want the deer here is the high (both volume and up from the ground) grazing intensity they put on the endemic plants, esp the seedling trees.... Molokai was almost grazed over in the 20 years after the 1st axis introduction in the late 1800's....and the Hawaiian kingdom had to hire professional hunters to drastically cull the herds... so this culling is not even a new idea here, it has been around for almost 1 1/2 centuries...

I have taken many a feral to the humane society, well knowing that they must dispose of most cats.... it is just I couldn't kill them... I still have a hard time killing snails, frogs & cockroaches...but know that every single one of them (and us... to be sure) really should not have been here, if we really do not want the endemic flora & fauna to continue to go extinct

[rainshadow]

Spoke to a friend recently in Kohala and he said there's major issue at Mahukona with feral cats - people are leaving big bowls of food out for them. Subsequently the cats fecal matter is getting in the water, and everywhere else apparently, and there's been an outbreak of toxoplasmosis and other health issues.

Here's a fast definition:
http://www.surgicareofhawaii.com/apps/He...kiid=22497

Not sure if any/all of this is true, but thought to pass it along, if you're heading that way soon.

-- rainshadow

[Obie]

Beside eating everything you grow including all of your flowers and vegetables,the deer may kill you !!

" According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration there are about 1.5 million car accidents with deer each year that result in $1 billion in vehicle damage, about 150 human fatalities and over 10,000 personal injuries. "

[oink]

quote:

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Oink, Florida must have strange carnivore deer.... ;~)

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I was obviously referring to Bullwinkle's post about the boas.
Any loose domestic animal should be trapped and caught for proper disposal if in residential areas. In Ag. areas, especially those area near or on natural areas, any loose feral or exotic or domestic animal should be trapped or shot on sight. That should include parrots, cats, dogs, mongoose or whatever. The boa thing is depressing as I see nothing to restrict their spread on any wet side. Brought in in a shipping container?

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[terracore]

quote:

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Originally posted by oink

quote:

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Oink, Florida must have strange carnivore deer.... ;~)

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....In Ag. areas, especially those area near or on natural areas, any loose feral or exotic or domestic animal should be trapped or shot on sight. That should include parrots, cats, dogs, mongoose or whatever.

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By "whatever" is your statement inclusive of humans? Aren't we the most dangerous invasive species of them all?

[coppercoin40]

terracore, I agree! Humans are cockroaches on this earth sucking the lifeblood out of every single thing!

The boa's are particularly a scary invasive. Even though the axis and sheep are bad news as well, at least they can be shot and ate. Imagine taking a walk through your favorite Puna trail and having a humongous boa drop out of the vegetation

[oink]

quote:

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By "whatever" is your statement inclusive of humans? Aren't we the most dangerous invasive species of them all?

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Ok, sure, just make sure you don't have any children so you don't contribute to the invasive species problem. Aren't you wasting the earths resources now?

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[EightFingers]

Maybe the problem will resolve itself (in time) []

Note: Link may be considered graphic by some of the more squeamish types....
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...-deer.html

ETA disclaimer

[YurtGirl]

I'd take Boa's instead of any kind of viper here ANY DAY. If we got any kind of poisonous snake here, it's over for trekking through tall grasses and jungle. Nightmare. Boas are pretty docile. I had a 6' Boa many years ago named Rocky BalBoa But hopefully we can keep snake free. Unfortunately, our inspectors are some of the first to get cut out during government cutbacks.

You know, I had this guy tell me about 5 years ago that he and his friends had flown over Axis deer from Maui and that we would start seeing them in a few year's time. He was real proud of it and I had no doubt he was telling the truth. But damned if I can remember his name or anything else about him except he was a big local guy with long, graying hair and a beard... He was a fella that I met at Ho'okena, back when a lot of homeless people lived there. When the Axis deer were confirmed here, I had no doubt it was related because he spelled it out to me in detail way back then; the helicopter, the timing of it, where they released them so they could get established before anyone noticed them...

As for the sheep/goats/pig - I know all kinds of people who hunt those for food, not because they enjoy killing things. That's a common and unfounded accusation that is often given for people who are anti-hunting. I'm quite positive that is the minority, not the majority of hunters that feel that way. Is there thrill in the hunt? Seems like it for sure. But there is also an ancient relationship between hunting and sustenance. Far better than picking up some antibiotic/hormone filled meat that comes from God knows what kinds of pits of hell to eat, thereby separating yourself from the horrors while still enjoying that pork butt.

The feral cats are out of control and the large colonies need to be taken out. I like cats, but I'm not crazy with them. That link about cat parasites and their effects on humans... whoa. That could explain a lot. It's not safe for the public to allow these huge colonies to continue, and they stink, BAD. Mahukona is currently ruined by the smell of cat excrement, as is half of Honuapo, Ho'okena is getting worse all the time, and many other beach parks. They are breeding disease. People should not be allowed to feed them. Why is it that people can't put a price on their heads and support their views that way, but people are allowed to feed them and help them procreate, thereby worsening the already horrible situation?

[Carey]

The bounty issue has been covered in past threads... DLNR will not use bounties because THEY DO NOT WORK...WHY??? the inconclusive list:
people will breed the animals you want to get rid of for the bounty
they will bring in more of the animals for the bounty
you have to have officials that are non-corruptible
you have to have officials that have no allegiance for or against the system for the bounty.....

I think most reading this can see WHY it will not work here....

Past thread link:
http://www.punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13585

DLNR Ungulate control Methods Tech Bulletin which includes a chapter on Bounties link:
http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/pubs/U...202007.pdf