RODENT & MONGOOSE

What and Why: To find out more about the negative impacts of rodents and mongooses on the native species and ecosystems of the Hawaiian islands, please read DLNR’s informational page: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/removerats/home/impacts-of-rodents-mongooses/

In addition to rodents and mongooses, feral and stray cats are also invasive species that negatively impact the ecosystem. More information on their impact may be found on the BIISC’s website: https://www.biisc.org/feral-cats/

We are currently conducting training and “training surveys” with 4 dogs with the goal of applying the best training methods to future operational projects. Our targets include live rodents (mice, rats), mongooses, feral cats, as well as associated scents such as scat. A variety of dog breeds, sizes and temperaments are participating in the project so that we may determine which dogs are suitable for deployment for specific applications and environments.

Where: Future applications in the Hawaiian islands may include: 1) Screening boats and cargo in the Hawaiian islands for bio-security purposes; 2) Monitoring of remote atoll wildlife refuges post-treatment; 3) Surveillance for incursions within bird sanctuaries and other areas protected by predator-proof fencing.