Nearly two miles and more than $110,000 worth of ungulate-proof fencing on the Big Island was cut and destroyed by vandals recently.
The fencing, surrounding the Puu Makaala Natural Area Reserve, was built to keep feral goats, pigs and other invasive animals away from native plants. The reserve comprises some of 18,700 acres of forest in South Hilo and Puna — one which state officials have described as a prime remaining example of a native wet forest ecosystem in Hawaii. It is also an area popular with pig hunters, although officials have not indicated whom they suspect in causing the damage.
An inspection of the fencing by reserve staff from the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife revealed that vandals had cut through multiple sections of fence in 15- to 30-foot chunks sliced top to bottom. The steel fencing is four foot high and is corrosion and rust resistant.
Officials with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources say this isn’t the first time fencing in two units within the reserve was vandalized.
“Whatever point these vandals think they’re making, they need to realize that they and every other taxpayer in Hawaii, ultimately ends up paying for the replacement of this fencing,” DLNR Chairwoman Suzanne Case said in a statement. “Additionally, significant staff time will be spent to repair the damage which could take several months and takes staff away from other scheduled projects and regular duties.”
A first degree criminal property damage case has been filed. Vandalism or destruction of state property is a class B felony with fines in the thousands of dollars and a possible five to 10 years in jail.
“This damage was done in one day and the cost estimate does not include the labor cost needed to remove ungulates that may have slipped through the damaged portions of fence,” said Nick Agorastos, a NAR specialist on the Big Island. “It’s unfortunate that we all end up paying for someone else’s thoughtlessness and complete disregard for the purpose of ungulate fencing.”
DLNR spokesman Dan Dennison said the department now believes that only a single pig slipped through the gaps, and the animal will be removed. The vandalism occurred in two areas, the La Lua Mahoe and the Lava Flow units, part of a remote area accessible only by a four-hour walk one way. The fencing was built in 1992 and was also vandalized to 2001, Dennison said.
Hilo hunter Dick Hoeflinger said fences went up in the reserve without any notification to hunters, “and caused a lot of grief in the hunting community.”
That points to a larger communication problem between hunters and the state agency that regulates their activity, he said.
“We need to talk to each other better,” he said, suggesting the formation of a statewide board or committee designed to create a better flow of information between hunters and the land department.
A 15-year management plan for the reserve completed in 2013 details nine existing fenced units and plans for 17 more miles of fence to be built as funds become available, with fenced areas eventually comprising 14,600 acres, or 78 percent of the total. Endangered birds and fifteen species of federally designated plants are located in or near the reserve.
Anyone with information on the vandalism is encouraged to call the DOCARE Hotline at 643-DLNR.