Living in Princeville at Hanalei means sharing our stunning environment with an incredible variety of wildlife. From the majestic nēnē geese to the curious chickens and even the occasional sighting of feral cats, our community is home to many animals. While it might seem harmless or even kind to feed these creatures, doing so can actually cause harm—to them, to our environment, and to our community.
Here’s why it’s important not to feed wildlife, and how we can all work together to protect the natural balance of our beautiful home.
Protecting Wildlife Health
While it’s easy to think that giving food to animals is helping them, human food is not part of their natural diet and can be harmful. Wildlife has evolved to find the nutrients they need from their natural environment. When we feed them, it can lead to serious health issues, such as malnutrition, disease, and unnatural behaviors that put the animals at risk.
For example, feeding nēnē geese can cause them to lose their natural wariness of humans, which may lead to more frequent crossings of roads or wandering into unsafe areas, increasing their risk of injury or death. Chickens and feral cats, on the other hand, can become reliant on human-provided food, which disrupts their natural foraging behaviors and encourages overpopulation.
Controlling Overpopulation
Feeding feral animals like cats and chickens can unintentionally contribute to overpopulation. When animals have an easy source of food, their numbers can quickly grow beyond what the environment can support. This often leads to more aggressive behavior as animals compete for limited resources and can cause long-term problems, such as damaging native ecosystems and threatening the health of native wildlife.
Unmanaged feral cat populations, in particular, can pose a significant threat to endangered species, such as our beloved nēnē geese. Cats are natural predators, and even well-fed cats will hunt birds, lizards, and other wildlife. By not feeding feral cats, we discourage the formation of colonies and help protect our fragile native species.
Reducing Human-Wildlife Conflicts
Feeding wildlife can also cause animals to become bolder around humans, leading to unwanted interactions. Animals like chickens, when fed regularly by humans, may start wandering into yards, driveways, and roads, looking for food. This increases the chance of them being hit by vehicles or causing a nuisance in residential areas.
Similarly, nēnē geese that are fed by humans can lose their natural instinct to avoid people, potentially leading to dangerous situations—for both the geese and residents. We want to maintain the natural beauty of our wildlife without encouraging behavior that puts them or us at risk.
Preserving Our Natural Environment
As a community, it’s important to remember that we live in a delicate ecosystem. Feeding wildlife disrupts the natural balance, as animals begin to rely on human-provided food instead of foraging for their natural diet. This can lead to environmental degradation, as wildlife overgraze or overhunt certain areas.
By resisting the temptation to feed wildlife, we allow nature to function as intended, preserving the beauty of Princeville at Hanalei for generations to come.
What You Can Do
We all love seeing wildlife around our community, but the best way to care for these animals is by letting them find their own food. Here are a few simple actions you can take to help protect our local wildlife and environment:
- Do not feed feral cats, chickens, or any other wildlife. It may seem kind, but it’s ultimately harmful to the animals and our community.
- Keep trash and food scraps secured. Improperly stored food can attract wildlife, encouraging them to forage near homes and increasing the risk of conflicts.
- Educate others. If you see someone feeding wildlife, kindly explain why it’s harmful and encourage them to stop.
- Support local efforts to manage feral animal populations. Programs that trap, neuter, and release (TNR) feral cats, for example, can help control overpopulation humanely.
Let’s Keep Princeville at Hanalei Wild—and Safe!
By keeping our distance and allowing wildlife to thrive on their natural diets, we’re doing our part to maintain the health and safety of both our animal neighbors and ourselves. Together, we can ensure that Princeville at Hanalei remains a safe and beautiful place for both residents and the wildlife we’re so fortunate to share it with.
Thank you for helping to preserve the natural harmony of our community!