The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
A mongoose hunts for insects in Wailea earlier this month. The invasive animals were introduced to Oahu, Maui and Molokai in 1883 by the sugar industry in a failed effort to control rats. The animals are about 26 inches in length, with about half that length made up by its long tail. They eat just about everything, including the eggs and hatchlings of native ground nesting birds and endangered sea turtles. There are no known populations on Lanai or Kauai.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photoToday's breaking news and more in your inbox
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