State makes third rodenticide drop

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is conducting its third and final application of rodenticide at Lehua Island today.

The final application started just after 7 a.m. today amid an ongoing investigation of the deaths of 45 fish and two juvenile boobies.

Boats are advised to steer clear from the channel between Lehua Island and Niihau during the application. A helicopter will be regularly crossing the channel as they drop rodenticide throughout the island via a hanging bucket.

Last week, the state launched an investigation after they were alerted of the dead fish and birds via photos and video posted on social media. A team collected the 45 fish and two birds from the north side of Lehua Island.

The state has said samples “do not show any immediate evidence of impact from diphacinone.”

“However unlikely the connection, the project partners take any potential risks to non-target species and marine life extremely seriously,” the state said last week in a news release.

Samples are being tested to determine the causes of death. Spokesman Dan Dennison the results to determine the causes of death could take months.

Community members have raised concerns about the use of diphacinone to eradicate rats and whether the rodenticide poses a threat to marine life and the environment. The Department of Land and Natural Resources has said diphacinone would have no significant impacts.

The first and second bait applications took place on Aug. 23 and Aug. 30, respectively. The state’s goal is to create a predator-free sanctuary for endangered and threatened seabirds on the 284-acre island located nearly a mile off of Niihau.