A 52-year-old man, who recently relocated to Hawai‘i Island from the mainland, was recently cited by State and federal agencies after his dog was captured on videotape harassing a Hawaiian monk seal at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park on Oct. 10.
Law enforcement agencies are not identifying the male due to past experience in which people cited for seal harassment received multiple death threats via social media. However a witness videotaped the dog running up on the seal and barking at it.
It took several weeks for authorities to track the dog’s owner down. He was cited for the following offenses:
DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE)
- Harassment of endangered and threatened species under State law
- Permitting a dog to stray (no leash) under Hawai‘i County Code
National Park Service (NPS) law enforcement:
- Failure to restrain a pet (dog off leash)
- Disturbing of wildlife activities
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE):
- Violation of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA)
The male has a court appearance scheduled in Kona District Court on January 26, 2023 for the State and County charges. On the NPS petty misdemeanor charges, he can pay fines of $80 and $130 respectively, for the two violations, to avoid going to court. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, charges are civil in nature, and penalties will be assessed, or determined, in accordance with NOAA’s Penalty Policy.
The law enforcement agencies caution that resting monk seals are powerful animals and could easily hurt or kill an off-leash dog.
DLNR Photo