Maui animal lovers irate after Home Depot net traps, kills birds

KAHULUI (HawaiiNewsNow) – Maui’s only Home Depot is making customers angry with a net that is supposed to keep birds away but is inadvertently killing them.

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Shoppers say the netting has been up at the Kahului store since last month.

Animal rescuer Sarah Haynes recorded a video on her cellphone after shopping there on May 26th.

She said her friend posted a similar video several days prior and she had to come see it for herself.

“It’s traumatic,” Haynes said. “I spent $400. I came out, and I was horrified … like all these dead birds hanging.”

Hawaii News Now tried to get answers from a manager on the property on Wednesday. The manager directed media inquiries to Home Depot’s corporate office. A corporate public affairs officer said they are looking into it and will provide an update on Thursday.

On Wednesday afternoon, live birds were seen flying around the netting, along with dead ones.

“Every couple of days, they take them out and we find new ones. So, it’s not getting solved,” said Haynes. “Like, you see this guy? If you get under him, you’ll see he tried to get out. He’s got his head stuck through the wire and he’s dead.”

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There are openings throughout the netting where birds are able to fly in but some are unable to find their way out.

Gemma Vaughan, PETA’s Captive Animal Case Specialist, said bird abatements like these are common but ineffective.

“Because reports like this are so common, we strongly recommend against the use of these deterrent nets,” Vaughan said. “Most bird species are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and I’m sure that the store would also want to comply with that.”

PETA said it will be following up with Home Depot about getting the netting removed permanently.

“I understand why they’d want to seal off an area so there’s not bird poop in there, you know, on their entrance. But at the end of the day, you just have to do it right,” Haynes said.

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