Streams and Wetlands
Suggestions if you live near a Stream or Wetland.
Healthy rivers, streams, and wetlands provide habitat for wildlife and aesthetic value. Wetlands filter excess nutrients, chemicals, and sediment, and provide habitat for a host of native birds, many of which are threatened or endangered. If you’re fortunate enough to live near a stream or wetland, you can personally help protect many of Hawaii’s endangered aquatic animals and water birds. Here’s how:
- Grow native plants suited to your area, especially adjacent to and along streams and wetlands to provide partial shade.
- Prevent toxic chemicals such as those used in lawn care and landscaping from entering wetlands and water sources.
- Don’t dump trash in streams or wetlands. Stop other people who do.
- Avoid entering streams during the breeding season.
- Don’t build too closely to streams.
- Keep rat populations under control. It’s healthier for your family plus rats eat bird eggs.
- Keep your cats indoors and your dogs leashed. These household pets can kill a nest of young chicks within minutes.
- Don’t release domestic mallards into streams and wetland areas. They compete with native birds for food and habitat.
- Don’t feed any wild birds, it can increase their risk for disease.
- Don’t release exotic fish, invertebrates (snails, crayfish, shrimp), or aquatic plants into streams, rivers, and wetlands. It’s against the law.
- Call the Department of Health’s Vector Control to remove mongoose and feral animals if they are seen in your yard.
Additional Resources
- www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/hawaii_intro.htm
- www.ducks.org
- www.hawaii.gov/health/environmental/vector/index.html
- www.state.hi.us/health/oeqc/garden/eioegsrc.htm
<p><em>Source: "<a href="ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/HI/pub/news/hawaiibackyardconservation.pdf">Hawaii Backyard Conservation</a>" (PDF), The U.S. Department of Agriculture.</em></p>
