Page 4 - MidWeek East - May 4, 2022

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MAY 4, 2022
A t under 2 pounds in weight, feral chick- ens appear anything but menacing. However, their exploding population poses very real problems. When feral chickens enter a neighborhood, they are not bringing their best. They dig up gardens, they rummage through trash and they leave droppings that poison our soils. Furthermore, some res- idents have been feeding fe- ral chickens, further causing their population to soar and exacerbating the problems
ing, it has real public health implications. Over time, disrupted sleep can lead to an increased likelihood of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other se- vere or chronic illnesses.
ral chickens harm our health and environment. Fortunately, some progress has been made. The City & County of Hono- lulu has launched its own spe- cial chicken management pro- gram and the Department of Land and Natural Resources also provides specific instruc- tions on how to capture and euthanize the birds. In 2021, the legislature even consid- ered imposing a $500 fine for feeding the feral birds.
If you have concerns about feral chickens on state prop- erty, you should contact the appropriate department. You can find a list of departments and agencies at portal.eha- waii.gov/government/de- partments-and-agencies.
sances caused by feral chick- ens; or call Honolulu Police Department (non-emergency 911 call) for violations includ- ing noise nuisance or exces- sive number of live poultry on private property.
these animals cause.
As you may have experi-
Feral chickens are a prob- lem that we all can relate to. Yet, competing management claims, lack of coordination between the government and residents, and the problem’s seeming lack of urgency have all been factors as to
why this issue has never been seriously addressed.
East O‘ahu residents have to do their part, too. Resi- dents can help reduce the feral chicken population in their communities by not feeding the chickens and re- porting concerns to the ap- propriate departments.
Email complaints@hono- lulu.gov or call 808-768-4381; submit a citizen complaint to info@hawaiianhumane.org; file a report on the Honolulu 311 webpage or app at ho- noluluhi.citysourced.com; call the state Department of Health Vector Control at 808- 586-4708 to report health nui-
Contact state Sen. Stanley Chang (D-9: Hawai‘i Kai, Kuli‘ou‘ou, Niu, ‘Aina Haina, Wai‘alae-Kāhala and Diamond Head) at 808-586- 8420 or senchang@capitol. hawaii.gov
enced, feral chickens are also a noise nuisance, disrupting sleep for many East O‘ahu residents. The crowing of feral roosters throughout the night isn’t just annoy-
Feral chickens make an impact on the everyday lives of many residents. This issue should not be put on the back- burner. It should be tackled immediately because of the subtle, but nefarious way fe-
STATE SEN. STANLEY CHANG
Feral Chickens Pose Threat To East O‘ahu Residents
They also pose a range of ecological problems. The rooting and scratching of the chickens wreak havoc on residents’ gardens and trees, as well as native plant spe- cies alike. Additionally, they can be a dangerous source of filth that may cause sickness or disease for animal life.
Feral chickens make an impact on the everyday lives of many East O‘ahu residents. PHOTO COURTESY KATHRYN EMANUEL
Residents have several op- tions available for complaints located on land owned by the City & County of Honolulu.
If you struggle with feral birds and their waste, contact the Department of Health for suspected violations of the health code. Community members can reach the DOH at 808-586-4708.
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