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Hawaii County committee advances amended ban on feeding feral animals on county land after hours of public comment
Summary
After more than three hours of testimony, the County Council policy committee amended and voted to recommend Bill 51 — which would prohibit feeding feral or stray animals on county-owned property — to the full council. Opponents urged expanded trap-neuter-return (TNR) support; proponents cited toxoplasmosis and threats to native species.
HILO — The Hawaii County Council policy committee on health, safety and well-being voted to forward an amended Bill 51 to the full council after nearly three hours of public testimony on July 8.
The proposal, introduced by Councilmember Connelly Kleinfelder, would amend Chapter 4, Article 3 of the Hawaii County Code to prohibit “feeding” of stray or feral animals on county-owned property except where the county authorizes an animal-management program. The committee adopted a Parks & Recreation–sponsored amendment that carves out county‑authorized programs and left other penalties and prohibitions intact. The committee voted 7–1 to recommend the amended bill to the full council.
Supporters of the bill said feeding stations on public lands attract and sustain populations of nonnative species and increase disease risk to people and protected wildlife. “Feral cats are widespread in Hawaii due to feeding and support provided by well-meaning humans,” said Brett Mossman, Forest Bird Recovery Coordinator at the State Department of Land and Natural Resources. Andrea public…
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