Lehua Island Third Rodenticide Application Planned Today

September 12, 2017, 9:07 AM HST
* Updated September 12, 9:09 AM

Listen to this Article
1 minuteLoading Audio... Article will play after ad...

Crews from the state department of Land and Natural Resources announced the planned resumption of aerial rodenticide applications on Lehua Island today.

SWIPE LEFT OR RIGHT

The third application comes amid an investigation launched last week in which teams confirmed the collection of 45 dead fish and two dead seabirds following numerous social media posts and images that surfaced online claiming a connection to the rat eradication effort.

At the time, teams said the samples did not show any immediate evidence of impact from the rodenticide used in the operation and had sought an expedited assessment.

As with the first two applications, state officials say a helicopter will be used to conduct the targeted, widespread and carefully monitored application of bait pellets today.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

For safety reasons boats are advised to stay out of the channel between Lehua Island and the island of Ni‘hau during active flight operations.

The helicopter, with a bait bucket, will be flying back and forth across the channel during the application procedure.