The Struggle to Contain, and Eat, the Invasive Deer Taking over Hawaii
Axis deer, introduced to Maui in the 1860s, now pose a threat to Hawaii's ecosystem. Innovative solutions like night hunting with drones and rifles aim to control their population, despite ethical concerns. Efforts focus on eradicating the invasive species through various strategies.
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Invasive axis deer are causing significant damage to Maui's ecosystem in Hawaii, where they were introduced in the 1860s and now number in the tens of thousands. Efforts to eradicate them have led to innovative solutions, including humane hunting for commercial resale. The deer are hunted at night using surveillance drones and long-range rifles to control their population. Concerns have been raised about the ethics of hunting deer year-round without a season, especially when does are killed while their fawns are still dependent. Despite debates on hunting methods, the goal in Hawaii is the eradication of deer as they are considered an invasive species disrupting the ecosystem. Efforts to manage the deer population include offering discounts on venison for locals and implementing bounties on deer tails. The issue highlights the challenges of balancing conservation efforts with controlling invasive species to protect native ecosystems.
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