LOCK DOWN THE CATS!  What the Kauaʻi Bird Kill Event Really Teaches Us

Hawaiʻi Animal Advocacy (HAA)
Author: Greg Pu’uwai Aloha Baker, Founder
Date: May 3, 2026


The recent report of 168 dead wedge-tailed shearwaters on Kauaʻi shocked many people—and it should. Seeing that many native birds killed is upsetting and deserves serious attention.

But if we want to protect these birds, we need to slow down and look at what we actually know—and what we don’t.


What we know—and what we don’t

The event happened near Shipwreck Beach, along an open stretch of coastline where seabirds nest in burrows. It’s important to understand: this is not a fenced or actively protected conservation area. It’s an unmanaged colony, where predators can enter freely.

The deaths have been attributed to cats. Cats are known predators of seabirds, and they may well be involved.

But from a scientific standpoint, that conclusion is not definitive.

In wildlife investigations, determining exactly what killed an animal usually requires:

  • Direct observation (like camera footage)
  • Detailed field documentation
  • Sometimes necropsy (animal autopsy)

Without that, conclusions are typically described as likely or inferred—not certain.

Why does that matter?

Because in real-world conditions, multiple predators can interact with the same animals. A carcass may show signs of one animal, but that doesn’t always mean it was the one that made the kill.


Cats, Dogs…and what large kill events look like

There’s another important point that many people are raising: cats do not hunt in packs.

Cats are solitary hunters. They stalk, ambush, and kill individual prey. They can kill more than one animal, especially when birds are concentrated, but their hunting typically happens over time, not in a single burst.

Dogs behave differently.

Dogs chase. They trigger panic. And they are known to cause high-intensity kill events, where many animals are killed in a short period—often without being eaten.

That doesn’t mean dogs caused this event. But it does mean something important:

👉 Large mortality events should not be assumed to have a single cause without clear evidence.

A scientifically reasonable possibility is a mixed event:

  • An initial disturbance or multi-kill event (potentially by dogs or another predator)
  • Followed by cats scavenging and possibly killing additional birds

This kind of sequence can leave behind confusing evidence.

The bigger issue: this colony is not being managed

There’s a key line in the reporting that deserves more attention:

Coastal colonies like this are not actively managed, and predator control is sporadic.

That’s the real issue.

This isn’t just about cats.
It’s not just about dogs.

👉 It’s about a lack of a system to prevent predators from accessing vulnerable birds in the first place.


“Lock Down the Cats”—what that actually means

If we want fewer dead birds—and fewer cats suffering outside—we need to focus on the system.

This is what Hawaiʻi Animal Advocacy calls the Coexistence Framework:


1. Pet Cats (the source)

  • Spay and neuter
  • Fixed cats reduce roaming
  • Prevent abandonment

👉 This stops new community cats from being created


2. Community Cats (what already exists)

  • High-intensity Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) (at least 75% of colony)
  • Adopt out socialized cats
  • Trained and Certified Colony Caretakers providing managed feeding and care
  • Colony stabilization

👉 This keeps cats in place, stops breeding, reduces population and impacts

3. Conservation Areas (where birds need protection)

  • Predator control
  • Fencing where possible
  • Active management with cat removal

👉 This protects birds directly


When the system works

When all three parts are in place:

  • No new cats enter the system
  • Existing populations shrink over time
  • Cats don’t move into bird nesting areas

👉 No breeding. No migration. No expansion.

That’s what “locking it down” really means.

What about Kauaʻi?

Right now, there is no coordinated, island-wide system applying this approach at scale.

We don’t have clear public data on:

  • What percentage of pet cats are fixed
  • How many community cats are being managed
  • Whether coastal colonies are being systematically protected

That lack of data—and lack of coordinated action—is part of the problem.


The bottom line

The Kauaʻi bird kill event is tragic. 

But reacting with certainty about a single cause—and focusing only on that cause—won’t prevent it from happening again.

What will?

👉 A system that:

  • Stops new cats from entering the environment
  • Manages existing cats effectively
  • Protects vulnerable wildlife areas

That’s the Coexistence Framework.

And that’s how we move from reacting to events…to actually preventing them!
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Learn more at www.HawaiiAnimalAdvocacy.org



 

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About The Author

Greg Puʻuwai Aloha Baker holds an MBA and a College Certificate in Community Cat Management from the University of the Pacific, a program focused on effective, humane methods to stabilize and reduce free-roaming cat populations. The program was taught by Stacey LeBaron, a nationally recognized expert with over 30 years of experience in community cat management, shelter operations, and TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return). LeBaron is best known for her leadership in the groundbreaking Newburyport, Massachusetts TNR project that successfully reduced a waterfront colony of 300 cats to zero by 2009, and for founding CommunityCatsPodcast.com.

Greg has been deeply involved in cat rescue and advocacy for more than five years, co-managing multiple community cat colonies in Pāhoa on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi as well as creating a mini-cat sanctuary for hard to adopt Community Cats. Through consistent TNR work, he has personally trapped, neutered, and returned over 100 plus cats. He also volunteers regularly at PetFix Spay/Neuter MASH events, providing critical support for both cats and dogs.

Greg’s commitment to humane cat management extends to policy advocacy. He founded Hawaiʻi Animal Advocacy Organization and led community efforts opposing the Hawaiʻi County Cat Feeding Ban (Bill 51), gathering over 7,500 petition signatures to defend community-based, science-driven animal welfare practices.

About Hawai'i Animal Advocacy

Hawaiʻi Animal Advocacy supports a balanced approach to conservation grounded in science, stewardship, and aloha. Protecting native wildlife and treating animals humanely are not competing goals — they are interconnected responsibilities. Conservation science consistently shows that ecosystem decline results from multiple factors, including habitat loss, disease, climate pressures, and introduced species. Addressing these challenges effectively requires integrated solutions that combine habitat protection, watershed health, humane population management, and community participation.

Many Hawaiʻi residents caring for community cats see their actions as part of kuleana — taking responsibility for animals introduced through human activity. Evidence-based sterilization programs, responsible feeding practices, and community engagement can help stabilize populations while supporting broader conservation goals. Policies that recognize both ecological science and local stewardship values are more likely to succeed and maintain public trust.


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