STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1293-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.C.R. No. 54

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 54 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO EXTEND THE USE OF OVOCONTROL TO FERAL CHICKENS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to reduce the population of feral chickens that create a noise nuisance, potentially threaten native birds, and cause other destructive and unsanitary conditions by requesting the Department of Agriculture to obtain federal approval for and use OvoControl bait, shown to be effective on feral pigeons, on the feral chicken population that should prevent the hatching of feral chicken eggs.

 

     The Hawaiian Humane Society and Wild Bird Rehab Haven supported this measure.  The Humane Society of the United States supported this measure with amendments.  A concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Agriculture provided comments.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Agriculture has a number of concerns regarding the use of OvoControl bait on the feral chicken population, including the time and costs involved in obtaining federal approval and its impact on non-target species.  Accordingly, your Committee requests that the Department recommend specific options and changes to control the feral chicken population to the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land should they deliberate on this measure.

 

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 54 and recommends that it be referred to the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair