HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

98

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO PREPARE A PLAN TO REDUCE THE STATEWIDE FERAL PIG POPULATION.

 

 

WHEREAS, feral pigs are an invasive species that cause considerable damage to the environment by: consuming ground-cover plants; destroying understory vegetation; churning and wallowing in the ground, causing erosion; and creating mosquito breeding areas; and

WHEREAS, feral pigs also directly impact the survival of native forest birds and other species; and

WHEREAS, these pests have migrated in increasing numbers from state land to residential areas causing property damage and disturbances that affect the health, safety, and welfare of area residents; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources has the duty and responsibility under section 171-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to "manage and administer . . . forests, forest reserves, . . . public hunting areas, [and] natural area reserves"; and

WHEREAS, it appears that the most common method of controlling feral pig populations has been by scheduled hunting seasons sanctioned by the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, ironically, despite the increase and the environmental damage caused by feral pigs near residential areas such as Manoa and Tantalus, the Department of Land and Natural Resources has shortened the hunting season, allowing feral pigs to maintain their numbers; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to prepare a plan to identify areas where feral pigs are a problem and reduce the feral pig population by considering, but not being limited to, the following:

(1) Expanding game management areas;

(2) Expanding public hunting areas;

(3) Extending the hunting season for feral pigs from seasonal to year round;

(4) Eliminating the bag limit on feral pigs;

(5) Contracting with private hunters for the removal of feral pigs; and

(6) Providing cash bounties to licensed hunters for each feral pig captured; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to confer with the Hawaiian Humane Society and hunting organizations when preparing the plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit the plan, along with findings and recommendations, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Hawaiian Humane Society and to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources for transmission to the appropriate hunting organizations.

Report Title:

Feral Pigs

Description:

Requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to prepare a plan to reduce the statewide feral pig population.

Description:

Requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to reduce the feral pig population in Tantalus and Manoa.