Economic estimates of invasive wild ungulate damage to livestock producers in Hawai'i.

Background: Invasive ungulates (hoofed mammals), including deer, feral pigs, feral goats, and feral sheep, are known to cause damage to agriculture, property, natural resources, and many other commodities. Most of the information regarding the economic impacts of wild ungulates is from North America, where some of these species are native. To evaluate invasive ungulate damage to livestock producers in the Hawaiian Islands, which have no native ungulates, a survey was distributed to livestock producers across the state.

Predation of the endangered Ae'o (Hawaiian Stilt) by a native raptor, the Pueo (Hawaiian Short-eared Owl) on the island of O'ahu, Hawai'i, USA.

While the impact of introduced predators is a widely acknowledged issue and key component of conservation considerations for endemic waterbird populations in the Hawaiian Islands, the impact of native predators on endemic, endangered waterbirds is not as frequently discussed or factored into recovery models. The Pueo (Hawaiian Short-eared Owl; ) is a subspecies of Short-eared Owl endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and is State-listed as Endangered on the island of O'ahu. The Ae'o (Hawaiian Stilt; ) is a subspecies of the Black-necked Stilt endemic to Hawai'i and is federally listed as Endangered throughout its range.