(AP) – Hawaiʻi is upping its effort to control the axis deer population. Private and public hunters typically kill about 7,000 deer annually across Maui County, but that number rose this year to about 17,000 thanks to permitted control efforts, public hunting and a new incentive program for landowners. The success of the program means the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife has invited landowners to apply for another round of funding to reduce their deer populations with a Nov. 25 deadline to submit their proposals. Despite the program, a heard of axis deer recently threatened the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, showing the difficulty of trying to contain the invasive species.

Story originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

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