Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus)
It is against Hawaii State law for any person to introduce, keep or breed any mongoose within the State except by permit from HDOA; permits are not issued for Kauai County or the island of Lanai. Fines for violations are between $250 and $1,000 for each mongoose introduced, kept or bred. HDOA Animal Industry Division Quarantine Rules HAR 142-92.
Description:
- Weasel-like animal that has a long, brownish body, short legs, and a tail that is as long as its body. Total length 65 cm
- Small ears, pointed nose
- Active during the daytime and sleep in dens at night
- Native to India, introduced to Hawaii Island in 1883 (via Jamaica, where it was also introduced), then introduced to Maui, Molokai, and Oahu; none were introduced on the island of Kauai. Imported by sugar industry to control rats in sugarcane fields, this early "biocontrol" attempt failed because rats are primarily night-active, while mongooses are day-active.
Harm:
- Predator of birds, small mammals, reptiles, insects, fruits and plants. The eggs and hatchlings of ground nesting birds like our state bird, the nene, and endangered sea turtles like the hawksbill sea turtle are especially at risk.
- Females can breed from the age of 10 months. Females have two or three litters of three pups each per year.
- Cost an estimated $50 million in damages to the Hawaiian Islands and Puerto Rico annually.
In Hawaii:
- Kauai: One female mongoose was found dead along a road in 1976 near Kalaheo, and sightings have been reported all over the Garden Island. KISC encourages reports of sightings and is working to verify if there is a population. None have been captured yet.
- Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Big Island: Large, well-established populations.
For more information, see:
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