AR-News: (US) HI: feral roosters being caught by legislator

[cathy goeggel]

Posted on: Wednesday, April 21, 2004
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Apr/21/ln/ln29a.html

Chickens raise ruckus in Moanalua Valley

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

Feathers are flying in Moanalua Valley over the persistent crowing of feral
roosters.


      Constituents called Rep. Glenn Wakai to complain about feral chickens
that had settled into a vacant lot, so Wakai, with his office manager
Garrett Umeda, set up a trap for the noisy birds.
      Bruce Asato . The Honolulu Advertiser

After complaining to the city, state, police and the Hawaiian Humane Society
with no results, residents in this otherwise quiet residential area called
Rep. Glenn Wakai, D-31st (Salt Lake, Tripler), who is taking matters into
his own hands.

About two dozen chickens have taken up roost in an empty lot between Ala
Lani and Ala Aolani streets above the Moanalua Golf Course and are causing
the most problems for adjacent residents.

"The chickens are a pain in the neck," said Hideo Miyahira, of Ala Aolani
Street. "They crow, they crow, they crow, crow, crow."

It's so bad that when family comes to visit during the holidays, they can't
sleep, said Miyahira.

"My two daughters come over for Christmas and spend about 2 1/2 weeks over
here and they go nuts," said Miyahira. "A neighbor has a small baby. When
you have a baby, that's tough. The baby wakes up and then the mother wakes
up. It does bother a lot of people."

Ala Lani Street resident Martha Hirashima said she is forced to get up
between 4:30 and 5 every morning as the roosters begin crowing.

"Every morning it's right by our bedroom window," said Hirashima, who lives
right next to the property. "They roam in our yard and some of the neighbors
feed them. That is a problem because it attracts mice."

Feral animals are a recurring problem in many parts of the state, from wild
peacocks in Makaha, to chickens on Kaua'i and in Kane'ohe, to cats in
Kaka'ako and Diamond Head. The chickens first appeared a couple of years ago
in Moanalua Valley.

Wakai said many of the nearby residents are elderly and not able to take
care of the problem, so he borrowed a humane chicken trap from the Humane
Society, set it with chicken feed behind some of the homes and will check it
every couple of days. Any chickens caught will be turned over to the Humane
Society.

"I'm no expert on catching chickens," Wakai said. "I'm just seeing a problem
and trying to come up with a solution."

If feral animals on private property become a problem, residents can buy
traps and turn the animals over to the Humane Society, said Deborah Ward,
spokeswoman for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

"We would only do something on state land if it became a problem affecting
native species," Ward said. "We don't have the resources to round up feral
chickens."

Police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said officers will respond to complaints
about chickens, but will only check to see if they belong to someone and are
within the legal limit for chickens on private property.

Hawaiian Humane Society spokeswoman Jacque Smith said if chickens are turned
in, they will try to find them a home.

"Most of our work is focused on owned or stray pets, not feral animals,"
Smith said. But, she said, "We try to find them good refuge."

Reach James Gonser at jgonser at honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
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