Hawaii County bans feeding feral cats on public land
Hawaii County on the Big Island will begin enforcing a new law on Jan. 1 that bans feeding feral animals on county property, an effort officials say is needed to protect native species such as the endangered nene goose from predation, vehicle strikes and toxoplasmosis linked to cat colonies. The measure is drawing pushback from longtime caregivers who say it will undermine trap‑neuter‑return programs and force tens of thousands of feral cats to hunt more aggressively, even as state biologists document nene deaths tied to cat feeding sites and urge tighter controls in sensitive habitats near dumps, resorts and parks.
📌 Key Facts
- A Hawaii County law taking effect at the start of the new year prohibits feeding feral animals on all county property, including transfer stations and parks.
- Officials say the ban aims to protect native wildlife, notably the endangered nene goose, from cat predation, increased road exposure near feeding sites and toxoplasmosis spread by cat feces.
- Cat advocates argue the rule will disrupt trap‑neuter‑return operations and leave established colonies, such as roughly 200 cats at the Kealakehe Transfer Station, without food, while some feeders report never seeing nene at their sites.
📊 Relevant Data
The population of the nene goose in Hawaii was estimated at around 3,862 individuals in the 2022 annual survey.
Be Pono To Nēnē | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Feral cats on islands are responsible for at least 14% of global bird, mammal, and reptile extinctions and are the principal threat to almost 8% of critically endangered species.
Feral Cats - Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) — Big Island Invasive Species Committee
The Big Island of Hawaii is estimated to have up to 500,000 free-roaming cats.
Cat Problems & Solutions | Aloha Animal Oasis | Big Island, Hawaii — Aloha Animal Oasis
At least 15 endangered Hawaiian monk seals have died as a result of toxoplasmosis since 2001.
Hawaiian Monk Seal Updates 2021 | NOAA Fisheries — NOAA Fisheries
A study found that trap-neuter-return programs resulted in a 99.4% decline in a community cat population, with no cats euthanized except for untreatable illness and injury.
New Study: Effectiveness of TNR | Alley Cat Allies — Alley Cat Allies