What is a Mongoose?

Mongooses are ferret-like animals that can live year-round in the Hawaiian climate, surviving in almost any environment, including your backyard. Although they look like big rodents, mongooses are more closely related to meerkats. They have a brown coat and a long, hairy tail. 

According to the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, mongooses are considered invasive wildlife, introduced to the Islands in 1885. Native to India, mongooses were brought to Oahu, Maui, and Molokai with the intent of protecting sugar cane fields against destructive rats. The plan ended up having much more negative implications for our environment than anticipated. 

Today, mongooses harm local wildlife, targeting endangered birds and their eggs, reptiles, fruit, vegetation, turtles and their eggs, rodents, insects, snakes, and other small animals. Many endangered and at-risk animals fall victim to mongooses, which is why most consider them to do more harm than good. You may spot mongooses running around your lawn, especially if there are ground-nesting birds on your property.

How to Get Rid of a Mongoose

The best way to get rid of mongooses is by trap and release methods. How it works with trapping is traps are baited with some food for the mongoose to go after. When the mongoose goes into the trap, the trap door closes behind them – enclosing the mongoose.

Because mongooses are unpredictable and possibly dangerous, it’s not recommended that trapping should be done without the intervention of wildlife control specialists. Although mongooses do not typically attack humans, they do have the capability to spread rabies with a single bite.

How Can I Prevent Mongooses in My Yard?

The best way to stop mongoose activity in your yard is to make the environment unappealing to their survival. Remove or protect potential food sources. If you have chicken coops, also be sure to cover them to avoid mongooses stealing their eggs and even killing smaller chickens.

Mongoose prevention can be complex and not always effective if you do it yourself. Mongooses live in tunnels underground, but can also be found hanging out in hollow trees and on the ground during the day. They’re diurnal, which is why you may spot one running around your garden. They aren’t especially picky eaters and can survive in harsh conditions. 

If you remove any food sources in your yard, mongooses will leave. You can also take the following steps to prevent mongooses in your yard:

• Pick up any fallen fruit on the ground.
• Secure your garbage cans.
• Cover vegetable gardens with mesh.
• Secure your chicken coop.
• Hire professional wildlife removal.

We’re the Experts in Getting Rid of Mongooses

Have you spotted a mongoose on your property? Don’t expect other wild predators to take care of them. Experts at Sandwich Isle Pest Solutions know their stuff, including mongooses. We’ve been tackling wildlife in Honolulu for over many years with quality control and extermination services. 
Contact us today for a free service consultation!