Bill > SB568

This bill establishes a comprehensive program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to manage the growing populations of feral goats, sheep, and pigs in Hawaii, which are non-native species causing significant environmental and public safety problems. The bill recognizes that these animals have been destroying native ecosystems, increasing wildfire risks, creating hazards on roadways, and threatening human safety by causing potential accidents and habitat encroachment. The proposed program will focus on humanely trapping these animals through partnerships with various agencies and private entities, with goals that include increasing access to wild game meat, mitigating highway and infrastructure hazards, protecting dryland forests, using trapped animals for grass and weed control, and educating property owners about the trapping services. The DLNR will be designated as the primary agency responsible for coordinating these trapping efforts across public lands, with a broader objective of managing wildlife populations, protecting native habitats, and reducing the negative impacts of these invasive species. The bill amends existing statutes to formalize the DLNR's new responsibilities and provides a legal framework for implementing this coordinated trapping program to address the ecological and safety challenges posed by feral goats, sheep, and pigs in Hawaii.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=568&year=2025