Well, not exactly waiting. Or patient, for that matter. It only appears that we are always waiting; for the next report, for the trap to spring, or for the next mongoose capture.
The mongoose response team (Jamie Harris – DLNR DOFAW, and Pat Gmelin – KISC) have continued with their trapping and outreach efforts across Kauaʽi.
There were six mongoose sightings reported to KISC during March; three considered credible, and three deemed questionable. This month, the mongoose reports that seemed “iffy” were only so because the viewer did not have the animal in their sights very long. They were certain it was a mongoose, but they could not recall enough details about the observation for us to deem it credible.
One of the sightings this month was seen by both the driver and the passenger, in a “hot spot” (meaning area of repeated historical sightings).
Currently, we are patiently waiting for just the right type of mongoose sighting that would warrant a rapid-response effort with the mongoose-detecting dog.
Meanwhile, new areas are being scoped out for trap placement and property access permission is being pursued.
