Cat-feeding protest results in two citations to protect nene

WAIKOLOA — Two women were cited by state conservation officers Tuesday night during a protest by feral cat activists.

About 50 people, some carrying large bags of cat food, showed up in a rear parking lot of the Queens’ Marketplace Shopping Center to protest the property owner’s decision to have three cat feeding stations removed, after being warned by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources that cat food was attracting nene, according to a DLNR statement.

The situation came to the attention of DLNR from concerned citizens.

Both women, with Waikoloa addresses, were cited for “prohibited take of endangered species”, after they allegedly put bowls of cat food on the ground.

According to the DLNR, both women were also informed by a Queens’ Marketplace security officer that they were trespassing and were no longer allowed anywhere on the property.

A third woman was issued a warning after being spotted pouring cat food into bowls behind a shed.

Nene are listed as an endangered species under state law and are listed as a threatened species under federal law.

The DLNR noted that law enforcement is required to take action to prevent feeding of nene, which is considered an illegal take (a negative impact on a threatened or endangered species). Additionally, in this case, the landowner is not supportive of establishing or maintaining feeding stations on their property.

Feral cats can be serious predators of our native species and can vector deadly diseases including toxoplasmosis. For this reason, the DLNR has previously noted its support for keeping cats indoors and not feeding or maintaining cat colonies.

“As animal lovers, we strongly believe that keeping cats indoors is better for cats and better for the native wildlife, including the nene, for which we are responsible,” the DLNR said in the statement.

See Thursday’s Tribune-Herald for more.