Posted June 23, 2017
The last mongoose caught on Kauai on October 11, 2016.
On Sunday, June 18th, there was one eye witness report of a possible mongoose sighting from a couple in Princeville. Due to the amazing Kauai community and their diligence in helping protect Kauai’s native seabird colonies from the predation of mongoose, the one possible sighting was reported to multiple agencies.
The KISC crew interviewed the couple and deployed traps in the area. The Kauai Mongoose Survey and Rapid Response Plan (2016) was developed in a partnership effort (KISC, US Fish and Wildlife Services, DLNR Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Oahu Army Natural Resources Program, Japan Wildlife Research Center, and the Department of Wildlife Biology, Japan) based on the best available science. The plan indicates that KISC will deploy a full response when there are three sightings within a two-week period that are within a 0.5km radius of each other. The sighting this weekend does not meet the minimum threshold to launch a full scale response, though KISC has deployed traps in the area. The KISC crew will continue trapping for the next week and asks the public to report any possible sightings to 808-821-1490.
KISC is continually grateful for the community support for our work and concern for Kauai’s unique native biodiversity.
To learn more about mongoose click here. Only three live mongoose have been captured on Kauai. On May 23, 2012 the first mongoose was captured near the Lihue Airport. A second was captured on June 29, 2012 near Nawiliwili port. Last fall, on October 11, 2016, a mongoose was captured at Lihue Airport.
You can find the full Kauai Mongoose Survey and Response Plan here.
