In the last two weeks, three nēnē were fatally struck by vehicles on Chain of Craters Road in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park despite signs warning motorists to slow down and watch for geese. The latest death occurred on October 21.

The park is urging visitors to steer clear of a nēnē pair that is frequenting the former Jaggar Museum parking lot at the new Uēkahuna eruption viewing area. Park staff have observed nēnē feeding on piles of rice, crackers and other food left behind in the parking lot and surrounding area. Although the food is removed, to further protect the birds, park management could decide to close the parking lot if the nēne continue to congregate near vehicles.  Nēnē crossing signs posted throughout the park call attention to roadside areas frequented by nēnē. These include sections of Highway 11, Crater Rim Drive, and Chain of Craters Road. Speed humps are installed in problem areas. Motorists are urged to use extra caution in nēnē crossing areas, and to obey posted speed limits.

Nēnē are the largest native land animals in Hawai‘i and the world’s rarest goose. Wild nēnē are found only in Hawai‘i and are the last survivor of several other endemic geese. They have strong feet and padded toes with reduced webbing, an adaptation that allows them to walk across rough lava plains. Most nēnē fly between nighttime roosts and daytime feeding grounds. The female builds a simple ground nest and incubates one to four eggs for a full month while her devoted mate acts as a sentry. Shortly after they hatch, goslings leave the nest and follow their parents to their traditional foraging grounds which can be more than a mile away. At 14 weeks, nēnē can fly, and along with their parents, they join other flocks where they meet their relatives and potential mates. They usually mate for life.They are present in the park and other locations in Hawai‘i year-round, but the October through May breeding/nesting season is crucial for their survival. It’s also when nēnē are most vulnerable to being run over by drivers. The geese are focused on eating, and often forage from dawn to dusk as they get ready to nest. They blend in with their surroundings, and in low-light periods, they are especially hard for motorists to spot. By 1952, only 30 birds remained statewide. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and conservation partners began efforts to recover the species in the 1970s through a captive breeding and reintroduction program. The Nēnē Recovery Program continues today, and around 165 birds thrive in the park from sea level to around 8,000 feet. Nearly 3,500 nēnē exist statewide.

Visit https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/nature/nene.htm for more information.  To report nēnē on the road in the park, call 808-985-6170. Outside the park, call 808-974-4221.