photo courtesy Hawaii DLNR

(BIVN) – A protest over a State mandate to remove feral cat-feeding stations from the parking lot of a Waikoloa shopping center resulted in citations on Tuesday evening.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources directed the removal of cat-feeding stations at Queens’ Marketplace, placed by feline advocates, following complaints that native nēnē (Hawaiian geese), are being negatively impacted by the consumption of cat food and close contact with feral cats.

photo courtesy Hawaii DLNR

From a Hawaiʻi DLNR news release:

Two women were cited by officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources (DOCARE) tonight during a protest by feral cat activists.

About 50 people, some carrying large bags of cat food, showed up in a rear parking lot of the Queens’ Marketplace Shopping Center to protest the property owner’s decision to have three cat feeding stations removed, after being warned by DLNR that cat food was attracting nēnē, the Hawai‘i State Bird. The situation came to the attention of DLNR from concerned citizens.

Both women, with Waikoloa addresses, were cited for prohibited take of endangered species (HRS 195-D), after they allegedly put bowls of cat food on the ground. Both women were also informed by a Queens’ Marketplace security officer that they were trespassing and were no longer allowed anywhere on the property. A third woman was issued a warning after being spotted pouring cat food into bowls behind a shed.

A local feral cat feeding group mobilized about 50 people to protest the decision to stop feeding feral cats at Waikoloa.

DLNR along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), has legal responsibility for protecting native Hawaiian species, including our nēnē. Nēnē are listed as an endangered species under Hawai‘i state law and are listed as a threatened species under federal law. Law enforcement is required to take action to prevent feeding of nēnē, which is considered illegal take (a negative impact on a threatened or endangered species). Additionally, in this case the landowner is not supportive of establishing or maintaining feeding stations on their property.

Feral cats can be serious predators of our native species and can vector deadly diseases including toxoplasmosis. For this reason, the DLNR has previously noted its support for keeping cats indoors and not feeding or maintaining cat colonies, as described in Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council Resolution 19-2, supporting the keeping of pet cats indoors and the use of peer-reviewed science in pursuing humane mitigation of the impacts of feral cats on wildlife and people.

In a statement issued today DLNR said, “As animal lovers, we strongly believe that keeping cats indoors is better for cats and better for the native wildlife, including the nēnē, for which we are responsible.”