Staff from Pōhakuloa Training Area’s Natural Resources Program completed their fifth year of the Hawaiian Goose (Nene) Conservation Project managed in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge.

In a press release Lena Schnell, USAG-P NRP Senior Program Manager said, “During the 2021–2022 breeding season, our management of habitat and invasive animals supported 16 nesting pairs of geese, and resulted in 8 goslings surviving to sub-adults capable of flight.”

According to Schnell, young goslings unable to fly are extremely vulnerable to invasive predators such as mongoose and feral cats. Several management methods are employed to help increase the survivorship of young geese at HFNWR.

The 22-person natural resource team also manage invasive animals in the habitat enhancement area and along key roads.

(Photo credit: PTA)