---
title: "The Hawaiian island of Molokai is to get a predator-proof fence around a Laysan Albatross attraction site"
---

# The Hawaiian island of Molokai is to get a predator-proof fence around a Laysan Albatross attraction site

The [American Bird Conservancy](https://abcbirds.org/) and the [Molokai Land Trust](https://molokailandtrust.org/) aim to construct a predator-proof fence at the [Mokio Preserve](http://molokailandtrust.org/mokio.php) on the Hawaiian island of Molokai.  The purpose of the fence is to provide protection to rare native plants and breeding seabirds at a dune restoration site on the Anapuka Peninsula within the 695-ha preserve on the north-west coast of the island ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2900-another-high-rise-colony-for-laysan-albatrosses-planned-this-time-on-molokai)).

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Mitigation/Mokio-Fence.jpg)

 The black dashed line in the Mokio Preserve marks the line of the planned predator-proof fence; map from the Molokai Land Trust

 The 2-m high fence will be 1.7 km long and will encompass 36 ha; both fence ends will be on sea cliff edges.  It will come with a fine mesh, a ground-level skirt and a hood, following predator-proof fences erected in New Zealand and on two other Hawaiian islands (Oahu and Kauai).  It is aimed to keep out rodents, mongooses and feral cats, as well as introduced [Axis Deer or Chital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chital) *Axis axis*and domestic dogs.  An existing deer fence will be removed once the new fence is up.  Vehicular and pedestrian access will be by way of several gates.

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Mitigation/James_Campbell.jpg)

 The predator-proof fence in the [James Campbell Wildlife Refuge](https://www.fws.gov/refuge/james_campbell/) on the Hawaiian island of Oahu: the planned fence on Molokai will be of a similar design

 Photograph by Pacific Rim Conservation

 The area to be enclosed is where attempts are already being made, by way of decoys and broadcasts of pre-recorded calls, to attract Laysan Albatrosses *Phoebastria immutabilis* in the expectation they will commence breeding ([click here](https://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2900-another-high-rise-colony-for-laysan-albatrosses-planned-this-time-on-molokai)).  A new colony will be out of the reach of an expected sea-level rise that will impact breeding Laysan Albatrosses on the low-lying Hawaiian islands of the North-Western chain.  Landings by Laysan Albatrosses within the restoration site have been recorded over the past several years.

 Read a news article about the fencing plans [here](https://www.mauinews.com/news/community-news/2018/06/native-species-recovering-at-mokio-preserve-on-molokai/).

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 19 September 2019*