On Jan. 4, an instructor at the Ukumehame Rifle Range spotted a nene goose in the area, according to a County of Maui press release sent out today. I think you can guess what happened next.
“The Department of Parks and Recreation has closed down its Ukumehame rifle range because of a Nene goose nest in the area,” states the Jan. 7 news release. “On Monday a DLNR wildlife biologist confirmed that not only was there a Nene on property, but that there was also a nest located on the right hand side of the rifle range, up against the berm. Upon DLNR’s recommendation the county has closed the rifle range while the Nene continues to lay eggs.”
Both the state and federal governments consider the nene to be endangered. According to the county news release, a rifle range instructor spotted the bird on Sunday, Jan. 4. The instructor then called the State Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The county statement adds that the Ukumehame pistol range, clay target range and classrooms are still open. As for how long the rifle range will be shut down, DLNR officials say in the news release that “it will be about a month and a half before the eggs hatch and the Nene family mobile enough to be relocated
(or leave on their own.)” The range will reopen after that.
Photo of nene goose: Forest & Kim Starr/Wikimedia Commons
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