Park plan aims to eliminate alien animals

Managers at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have adopted a plan to rid the park of non-native animals, mostly pigs and goats, which are damaging native vegetation.

The plan calls for population monitoring, shooting, snaring and baiting, as well as erecting fencing and moving the animals, a park official told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

Park Environmental Protection Specialist Danielle Foster said the park is updating a plan in place since the 1970s. "We try to shoot them first to control. It’s the quickest and most humane. But when something’s been elusive, we have a wide range of tools available."

Pig hunting on Kauai open to archers

Archery hunting for wild pigs on Kauai will open during weekends in June and on June 11, King Kamehameha Day.

Hunting will be allowed in Unit J. Access to the area will be from Kokee Road on Highway 550, Trail 2 from upper Papaalai ridge road, and Trail 3 from upper Haeleele ridge road to the Puu Lua Reservoir. Other trail gates will be closed.

No permits are required, but hunters must sign in and out at the Kokee hunter check-in station on Highway 550. Each hunter will be limited to one pig a day.

Call the Division of Forestry and Wildlife at 274-3433.