The Maui News
Maui County has awarded $775,000 in grants to assess and manage feral animal populations, including axis deer, a longtime problem for residents and ranchers that has been made worse by the drought.
“Maui County’s axis deer population has become much more than a nuisance,” Mayor Michael Victorino said in a news release Monday. “This invasive species is a threat to the livelihoods of our farmers and ranchers. They also cause traffic accidents and damage yards and backyard gardens on Lanai, Molokai and Maui. Left unmanaged, axis deer will suffer and die from starvation and disease.
“These grants will help to assess the scope of the problem and employ humane ways to keep deer populations in check.”