• Poison plan could harm environment • Representative should look into dairy plan Poison plan could harm environment The rats on Lehua Island need to be eradicated. How to go about it is the question. Sometimes our plans go more like ready,
• Poison plan could harm environment • Representative should look into dairy plan
Poison plan could harm environment
The rats on Lehua Island need to be eradicated. How to go about it is the question. Sometimes our plans go more like ready, fire, aim. I think this is one of those plans.
No doubt 10 tons of rodenticide dropped on a small 290-acre island will kill a lot of rats. In 2009 we dropped 3,900 tons of rodenticide and we killed a lot of rats. What effect that had on marine life was not documented as far as I know.
How do we know other animals will not ingest this poison? The very endangered birds we are trying to protect could come in contact with this poison. If there are heavy rains or strong winds these pellets could end up in the ocean.
Fish, crabs, marine life as well as our reefs could come in contact with this poison. Have we given any thought to what will happen with hundreds if not thousands of poison-laden dead rats washing into the ocean? Likely our monk seals and sharks and other marine life will eat them. What detrimental effect will that cause?
Do we really need to poison another of our islands? Our islands are being sprayed with tons of pesticides on a regular basis. Have you ever compared our islands reefs with those that have never come in contact with pesticides or herbicides like our islands are constantly being bombarded by? They are beautiful flourishing reefs with an array of colors and multi species of thriving fish. Our Hawaiian reefs, not so much.
When are we and our leaders going to wake up and realize poison kills! Not just intended targets but unintended targets also! I am not a scientist but I think a program of birth control for rats is a better way to go.
Linda Bothe, Kalaheo
Representative should look into dairy plan
Rep. Dee Morikawa is to be commended for taking action regarding the proposed rat eradication program on Lehua.
Despite the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s final environmental assessment finding of no significant impact, Morikawa responded and took action based on questions and concerns from her constituents.
I call upon Rep. Morikawa to show the same level of interest and concern regarding the environmental impact of an industrial dairy in Mahaulepu. After all, the people who live in Koloa and on the South Shore are also her constituents.
Linda Estes, Koloa
