I am writing, as I am beyond concerned about some obvious and extensive animal poisoning that is occurring in the properties in and around my home in Poipu Beach Estates, Koloa.
Firstly, I am very concerned that some very effective and deadly poisons that have been scattered around this small section of the neighborhood will result in the injury or death of a child. I see lots of visitors with children including babies and toddlers passing through the effected areas on foot on the way to the beach or shops. Given the penchant for young children to put random things in their mouths, I am VERY concerned that a child may be harmed.
The next related concern is that other pets, besides mine will also be poisoned. Our outdoor cat showed the same symptoms as all the wild chickens, song birds and white egrets I have seen die in the area the last 3 weeks (approximately 40 poisoned birds). First they, the birds and unfortunately my cat too, get lethargic, fall over, froth from the mouth and quickly die. This happened late in the evening for my cat and she died before I could find any emergency veterinary service open at that late hour.
My large dog evidently ingested some of the poison and being forewarned by all the wild chicken deaths and the cat, we stocked up on two types of antidotes that worked well for the dog.
Precisely equaling my concern and sadness of the death of our cat is my fear that the many Nene Geese and the 2 Koloa Ducks that spend time in my yard and the surrounding areas have ALREADY been poisoned or will be poisoned if they have not, as of yet, ingested this cowardly poison.
Some of my neighbors inform me they have seen dead birds in or at the boundaries of their property and they too are concerned for their pets, local and visiting children and the two “Endangered Species” of waterfowl we all care about here on Kauai.
I believe the motivation for the coward who has scattered poison here has to do with his voiced fear that the many roosters who crow every morning and evening may garner his rental a negative Yelp review online and this coward has decided to kill all the hens, baby chicks and roosters in the vicinity to his vacation rental.
Evidently, this person has been going out under the cover of darkness in the pre-dawn to scatter the poison. I believe he is then using these forays to collect the many dead birds that succumbed during the night. In order that, the authorities don’t see ALL the dead birds and…he doesn’t have a trash can full of evidence against him. To rid himself of investigation, this cowardly bully has been walking well into my property and stacking the hen’s, rooster’s and white Cattle Egret’s dead bodies a good 30’ INTO my backyard.
Every day my wife and I must gather up poor dead and dying birds and apologize to them as they leave this life.
This is extremely difficult for us as we have lived with my incurable and aggressive cancer and I for one feel in a very palpable way…how precious life is. Not just my life or those we love, but all life… deserves at the very least a peaceful passing.
I realize many people who reside on our wonderful island don’t think much about the life of a chicken…I get it, I am a meat eater and eat chicken every week, but those birds we buy at the market must be dispatched in a humane way they do not suffer a horrid death drowning in froth.
The reason I have decided to finally write is, I ordered a number of night vision surveillance cameras to get the evidence for the police and the DLNR in order to stop this individual, the cameras did not arrive in time to gather this needed evidence.
Yesterday, 1 August, this creep crossed the line. When we got up to see if there were any suffering animals we could help make comfortable as they died, we were horrified. Not ten feet from our bedroom window, which faces the backyard, were 5 dead chickens. Four hens and a rooster. They had been lined up in a row, like a short sad sentence, with all their heads facing the bedroom window. This caused my poor wife to break down in tears. So, I write this letter hoping the newspaper may print it hoping that it will prompt the authorities to help us.
Our mornings are still sad finding the last of the dying hens each morning, the beginning of each new day is infused with a sad silence, devoid of the wild roosters crowing to the new day.
I haven’t seen my two Koloa Duck friends who nestled in the lily plants and dried leaves, happily making rustling noises in my front yard.
But the saddest silence of them all is…I haven’t heard my friends, the flock of Nene making that poignant “mewing’ sound as they landed in my yard. For my Beloved Grandmother often told me before she left this life…’Oh Chris, that is my favorite sound in this whole wide world”.
Respect is important.
•••
Capt. Christopher W. Best, USMM, (Ret.) ex-NavSpecWar is a resident of Koloa.
