State of Hawaii

06/09/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/09/2025 16:26

6/9/25 – HAWAIʻI ISLAND RESERVES TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE JULY 1-2 FOR ANIMAL CONTROL ACTIVITIES

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6/9/25 - HAWAIʻI ISLAND RESERVES TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE JULY 1-2 FOR ANIMAL CONTROL ACTIVITIES

Posted on Jun 9, 2025 in Forestry & Wildlife, Main, News Releases, slider
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
DAWN CHANG
CHAIRPERSON

HAWAIʻI ISLAND RESERVES TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE JULY 1-2 FOR ANIMAL CONTROL ACTIVITIES

[Link]

HILO, Hawaiʻi - Animal control activities targeting feral goats, feral sheep and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids are scheduled for July 1-2, 2025 on Hawaiʻi Island. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) will conduct the operations using ground-based and aerial methods.

The federal government mandates these actions to protect the habitat of the palila, a critically endangered native forest bird with a dwindling wild population. Control efforts will take place within critical palila habitat areas, including:

  • Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A)
  • Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K)
  • Palila Mitigation Lands
  • Kaʻohe Game Management Area (Unit G)

During control operations, public access to these areas will be restricted. Limited access for animal salvage purposes will be allowed by permit only on the following dates and times:

  • Tuesday, July 1 - Access begins at 6 a.m.
  • Wednesday, July 2 - Access begins at 7 a.m.

For detailed information on control activities, schedules, salvage permit applications and access conditions, please visit the DOFAW website or contact the Hilo DOFAW office at 808-974-4221.

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RESOURCES

(All images/video courtesy: DLNR)

Photographs - Hawai'i Island Reserves Closure for Animal Control (various):

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/abpfno8q08g4zxthcl0li/ACDcwNEUuxDkfT76Kf0AWhM?rlkey=t9mkihd76xptef1gxqg036vxp&st=8tcy86n8&dl=0

Legal Notice of Animal Control Activities: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/files/2025/05/LN-Mauna-Kea-Closure-7-1-25-DGS-part-1-signed.pdf

Explore Outdoor Hawaiʻi Hunting Page: https://outdoor.hawaii.gov/hunting/

Media Contact:

Ryan Aguilar

Communications Specialist

Department of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawai'i

Phone: 808-587-0396

Email: [email protected]

State of Hawaii published this content on June 09, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 09, 2025 at 22:26 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io