Aliens introduced to Hawai‘i by the cattle industry

Horses arrived on the islands of Hawai‘i and Maui in 1803. These first horses were allowed to roam and quickly multiplied in the wild. By the 1840s, other horses more suited for riding and ranching were imported. Horses contributed to the denuding of island vegetation, but their impact was less than that of other alien animals.

Koa haole was first used to feed livestock. It multiplies easily in the wild and has become a threat on all islands.

Dung beetles are good aliens! By reducing cattle manure, the beetle helps to control the breeding of flies. There are 29 kinds of dung beetle here and they originate from different parts of the world.

The cattle egret is a recent introduction from Florida. In 1959, ranchers brought them to Hawai‘i to control pest insects commonly associated with cattle. Today, cattle egrets compete with native birds for food and habitat.