HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	71
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TO IMPLEMENT BIRTH CONTROL STRATEGIES TO CURTAIL THE PIGEON POPULATION AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

WHEREAS, pigeons have established themselves in areas throughout the State Capitol and surrounding areas; and

WHEREAS, significant areas of the State Capitol rotunda have been overwhelmed with pigeons and pigeon excrement; and

WHEREAS, State Capitol is the center of Hawaii government and, after a few years of being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will soon be reopened to the public; and

WHEREAS, despite current bird population control methods to help reduce the pigeon population, such as trapping and poisoning, pigeons are rapid breeders and appear to have increased their population significantly at and near the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, while poisons pose a threat to the environment and other animals, including pets, contraceptives are a safer, preferable, long-term solution for controlling feral bird populations; and

WHEREAS, nicarbazin is a nonhazardous drug proven to be an effective contraceptive for a variety of bird species; and

WHEREAS, OvoControl P, a general use pesticide containing nicarbazin, is approved and registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to prevent the breeding of pigeons and other avian species; and

WHEREAS, as a humane and nonlethal control method, OvoControl P was used successfully by several businesses in Waikiki, including the Honolulu Zoo and International Market Place, to abate their pigeon populations; and

WHEREAS, the use of birth control strategies using methods such as OvoControl P to control the pigeon population in and around the State Capitol will be of great benefit to promote a higher quality of life and safety for all those who frequent the State Capitol and surrounding areas; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that the Department of Accounting and General Services, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, is requested to implement birth control strategies to curtail the pigeon population at the State Capitol and surrounding areas; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to file a Special Local Needs or Section 24(c) registration of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, with the United States Environmental Protection Agency to allow the use of OvoControl P as part of the birth control strategies to control the pigeon population at the State Capitol and surrounding areas; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Comptroller, and Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

State Capitol; DAGS; DOA; Pigeon Population; Birth Control Strategies