Federal officials plan to apply two rodenticides at Pohakuloa Training Area as part of a study, prompting concerns from hunting groups.
The pellets will target mice in a 34-acre fenced area. The purpose is to see whether the rodenticides —chlorophacinone and diphacinone — could be effective if applied in conservation lands, according to a draft environmental assessment.
But hunters worry the poisons will be ingested by birds and other game animals during the experiment or if applied to a larger area as part of future rodent control efforts. Both the Hawaii Hunting Association and Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission oppose the study, members say.
“Nobody wants poison dumped on public lands,” said Nani Pogline, commission vice chairwoman.
The environmental assessment didn’t alleviate those concerns.
The draft report acknowledges the rodenticides could kill or injure birds.
Depending on daily activities, staff would chase away birds that land in the area while on site, according to the document.
But it still says there is the potential that several dozen birds of some species that are abundant in the area could be injured or killed during the trial. For pueo, the Hawaiian owl, it is estimated that two adults and three fledglings could be injured.
Residues in game birds would be “so low as to not pose appreciable risk to human health,” the report says.
“It doesn’t seem to be well thought out on the effect on non-target species,” said Richard Hoeflinger, a Hawaii Island bird hunter. “My point is it’s not going to get used so why do (the test)?”
The area is mostly ungulate free. Public access would be closed during the study, which would occur before October 2018.
The study, being done outside the main bird hunting season, is headed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Phone calls to a agency spokeswoman weren’t returned by deadline.
A press release issued by the agency says mice cause harm to Hawaii ecosystems by preying on bird eggs or eating endangered plants. It says the test site was selected because it poses a minimal risk to other species.
The environmental assessment says diphacinone is the only rodenticide labeled for conservation purposes in the state. Depending on the results of the study, the same registration could be pursued for chlorophacinone.
The draft environmental assessment can be viewed at www.fws.gov/pacificislands. Public comment will be accepted until May 26.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
