Committee forwards USDA wildlife services agreement to address feral swine at Hilo transfer station

The Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs voted July 7 to forward Resolution 594 to full council with a favorable recommendation, advancing a cooperative service agreement with USDA Wildlife Services to address feral swine and other wildlife at the Hilo solid waste transfer station and county wastewater facilities.

"There's been an estimate of about 150 to 200 feral swine that are currently at the Hilo Solid Waste Transfer Station," Jordan Lanell, district supervisor for USDA Wildlife Services, told the committee, saying the animals have caused sanitation problems and pose risks for diseases including brucellosis, pseudorabies and classical swine flu. Lanell said USDA proposes trapping operations outside business hours "to remove that threat to public health and human safety."

Deputy Emergency Management and Waste Division Chief Mike Rivera told members that most animal activity occurs after hours and that staff observe trash scattered by animals in the morning. Rivera said county staff will coordinate with USDA and that captured animals would be transported to Puanahulu (Kona) for disposal because the Hilo transfer station cannot accept biological waste.

Council members questioned whether the agreement, which funds one employee with supervisory oversight, would be sufficient to control animals across a large facility. "What is the plan for one person with a $100,000 to mitigate the amount of animals that are in the facility?" Council member Connie Lee Kleinfeder asked. Lanell answered that the funded position would have supervisory oversight while other USDA personnel and county staff would assist; he described corral traps, habituation and the use of drop gates that have previously caught groups of pigs.

Lanell also explained USDA authority to conduct night operations and use suppressed firearms when necessary, which is why the work is proposed outside business hours. On disposal logistics, Rivera said DEM will coordinate transport to Puanahulu for appropriate handling.

Several council members and DEM staff raised public education and enforcement as complementary steps, noting ongoing feeding at the facility by patrons and, in one instance, by county employees. Rivera said the division would pursue education and enforcement when the program begins.

The committee's motion to forward Resolution 594 to the full council carried; the clerk recorded nine ayes.

The full measure will return to the council for final action. If enacted, the agreement would allow USDA Wildlife Services to conduct trapping and other wildlife damage management operations at the named county facilities.