Wildlife Management and Invasive Species

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.