Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a fourth emergency proclamation Tuesday for Maui County’s axis deer crisis that an explosion in population and drought conditions has exacerbated, according to a news release. The latest proclamation period goes until Nov. 18, 2022.

The proclamation estimates there are at least 60,000 axis deer in Maui County. Annually, hunters kill over 7,000 axis deer, but that has not controlled the population. 

Maui and Molokai are being devastated by axis deer. Last year during a drought, the invasive animals started entering residents’ yards, agricultural fields, developed areas and high-elevation forested land in search of food, eating everything and turning them into barren wastelands. Most of Maui County is in a drought now too.  

The emergency relief proclamation enables the state and county to take measures to reduce and control axis deer populations. These efforts include corralling and culling the deer, clearing vegetation along fences, and building or repairing fences. 

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture opened an emergency loan program in September for farmers and ranchers to help farmers with the overpopulation of axis deer. The low-interest loans provide some relief in managing losses as well as assisting with the cost of fencing and other mitigation efforts. 

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii.