Free-ranging dog predation & disturbance

Names and classification

Record type

threat

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Recorded state

Active / localized

Threats and conservation

Pressure source

Loose, feral or unmanaged dogs

Exposure pathway

Direct predation, chasing and disturbance in nesting/roosting habitats

Consequences

Injury/mortality, nest abandonment and behavioral displacement

Affected requirements

Adult/chick survival, nesting behavior and disturbance-sensitive habitat use

Susceptibility

Ground-nesting birds, seabirds, waterbirds and coastal fauna

Reversibility

Often reversible with access control and animal management if vulnerable populations persist

Early warning indicators

Dog sightings/tracks; disturbed nests; carcasses; leash violations

Conservation interventions

Implementation limits

Magnitude, exposure and trend are not assumed uniform across Kauaʻi; local evidence governs.

Sources and further reading

• https://kauaiseabirdproject.org/the-solutions/
• https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/files/2026/03/FINAL-2025-SWAP.pdf

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