Nene struck and killed by car in national park on Big Island
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
Biologists and rangers at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park are mourning the loss of a female nene that was hit and killed by a car Wednesday, and drivers in the area were reminded to use extra caution.
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The Hawaiian goose was hit about 9 p.m. by a car on Highway 11 near the 40-mile marker in Ka'u.
There are about 1,300 nene, a native goose species, in Hawai'i today.
Her mate and eight-week-old gosling escaped harm and remain in the area. Because nene mate for life, park biologist Kathleen Misajon expects the male and gosling to linger near where the death occurred for several days or weeks.
"The pair had been together for more than seven years and had successfully nested and raised goslings to fledge in years past," Misajon said. "Please take extra care when driving through this area and wherever nene crossing signs are posted."
Nene are more active in the late evening and early morning during the full or nearly full moon. That is the most prevalent time when the birds would be fatally struck by autos.
Wednesday's loss was the year's first nene road fatality at the park, which is home to about 130 nene. There were five nene killed by cars in 2003, all on Highway 11.
The numbers of nene in the park have declined during the past several years because of drought, cat and mongoose predation, loss of habitat, and the road fatalities, Misajon said.
The goose species once roamed freely over the Islands by the thousands but, because of predation primarily by the mongoose, the nene became nearly extinct by the mid-20th century.
Today, there are about 1,300 nene statewide.
Reach Timothy Hurley at (808) 244-4880 or thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com
