Question: Is there a health or noise issue that can be looked into regarding a resident feeding 50 to 100 mallard ducks in their yard? This seems to be their home base. The duck poop is being washed into Kaneohe Bay. These ducks eventually all jump off the pier into the bay, quacking away. The noise is not only during the day, but in the wee hours of the morning when you’re trying to sleep. How can we get someone to come out to check the residence?
Answer: There is no state or county agency that regulates this as a noise, sanitation or zoning issue because it involves birds in the wild.
“Historically, the (state Department of Health) has never regulated this type of activity,” said Peter Oshiro, environmental health program manager for Sanitation/Food and Drug/Vector Control.
He said the department doesn’t regulate the feeding of wild or domesticated animals, nor does it have any rules or regulations regarding the number of wild birds/ducks that can be kept in a certain area.
Oshiro also checked with the department’s Indoor Air and Radiological Branch, which deals with noise issues, and the Clean Water Branch, which deals with water pollution, and found no regulations concerning this situation.
Mallards are considered either domestic or feral, according to the wildlife staff of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, but whichever they are, they would not fall under Division of Forestry and Wildlife protection, said spokeswoman Deborah Ward.
“We would discourage any landowner from harassing or killing them,” she said. “However, if not fed, they would eventually go elsewhere.”
Which means continued feeding would continue to bring them into your area.
“The reality of the situation is that there may not be an agency who will provide the requested services,” Ward said. “If they are on private property, it is the landowner — regardless of whether they ‘own’ the ducks — who is inviting and feeding the ducks who is responsible to avoid disturbing neighbors and to ensure his actions do not violate any federal, state and/or county laws.”
We also checked with the city Department of Planning and Permitting, which said it does not enforce any regulations regarding noise or the feeding of ducks.
From your description, the ducks are feral and therefore not “owned” by the resident, an official said. The department would get involved only if there was commercial raising of ducks on the property.
Meanwhile, the Hawaiian Humane Society says it responds to barking dog complaints but not to complaints about noisy ducks.
Question: Around 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, a cyclist rides his bike on the right side of Likelike Highway into the Wilson Tunnel toward Honolulu. He crosses the highway near the tunnel entrance and continues on the left side. After exiting he crosses again to the right side of Likelike Highway. I once saw him fall upon entering the tunnel, putting everyone in harm’s way. Can you please let everyone know to be cautious during this time in the morning?
Answer: Motorists who regularly travel that route must be familiar with that cyclist by now.
In 2009 we were asked whether there was any law prohibiting the riding of bicycles through tunnels on a major highway, citing a cyclist on the Likelike during the early morning hours.
The Honolulu Police Department told us there was no law prohibiting bicyclists from riding on highways, including going through the Pali and Likelike tunnels. However, bicyclists are not allowed on freeways, so that would prohibit riding through the H-3 freeway tunnels.
MAHALO
To the staff at Stan Sheriff Center for finding and returning my wallet intact, including my cash, following a Wahine volleyball game. The honesty shown was a heartwarming experience for me. — W.S.
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