State wildlife officials are appealing to dog and cat owners to keep their animals away from coastal paths on Kauai’s south shore after a large colony of native wedge-tailed shearwaters was decimated in two attacks this summer.
More than 80 uaua kani were killed by dogs and cats in their nesting areas in July and August, state officials said Wednesday. Their burrow was abandoned.
"It appears that the entire colony in this area has been severely depleted, and it is likely that very few breeding birds now remain," said Thomas Kaiakapu, a wildlife manager for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Kaiakapu said while this large kill is particularly alarming, reports of mass deaths of this species are received every year on Kauai.
The uaua kana, nesting on banks, dunes and cliffs near the shore, are vulnerable to predators.
"A colony can get wiped out in a matter of hours," said department spokeswoman Deborah Ward.
The wedge-tailed shearwater, also known as matori to local fishermen, is one of the more familiar seabirds on Kauai, with large concentrations seen offshore in the late afternoon as they gather to return to nesting sites.
At this time of year the birds are either sitting on eggs or raising very small chicks, making them particularly vulnerable to dogs and cats.
"Large feeding flocks of matori, or uaua kani, help fishermen to locate feeding schools of tuna," said DLNR Director William Aila.
"The birds use tuna to drive their prey (small fish and squid) to the surface, where they can catch them. We ask that fishermen speak to their neighbors about keeping their dogs and cats under control so that these important friends to fishermen can survive."
Aila said signs have been placed along the south coast path asking pet owners to keep dogs on leashes and cats indoors.
"No matter how friendly or docile you think your dog may be, if it gets near a nesting seabird, the dog will kill it," he said. "It’s a simple as that. We ask the general public to act responsibly in these areas with their pets to prevent similar instances from happening again."
