Golf balls are injuring nene geese at alarming rates
Nene have a surprising killer: golf balls. As the state bird’s population has increased, many have congregated at golf courses, where they enjoy the manicured lawns, but their high numbers on the green have led to many injuries and even death.
The nene, or Hawaiian goose, is endemic to Hawaii. In 1952, there were only 30 nene remaining, but since then the birds have made a comeback — with 3,000 nene now roaming Hawaii Island, Kauai, Maui and Molokai. However, when Captain James Cook arrived in 1778, an estimated 25,000 nene roamed the islands.
