FROG WAR BEGINS AT LAVA TREE STATE PARK

The Frog War has begun as of December 10, 2002, and Lava Tree is the first battle site. 

Lava Tree - Before click image to enlarge

Visitors to Hawaii who wish to see the beauty of Lava Tree State Park will have a shocking surprise. The park is currently being defoliated as part of the Frog War against the coqui tree frogs. Huge, majestic trees are being cut down, exotic understory plants are being destroyed, and the entire park will be denuded and drenched with acid. It is all part of a test to see if this can kill the coqui tree frogs that live there. It is acknowledged that this will not eradicate the frogs from the area, but simply test whether this procedure can control their numbers. 

Lava Tree - After click image to enlarge

Public comment on using Lava Tree for this test site was never obtained, and no environmental assessments were conducted. Lava Tree is also known to have the endangered Hawaiian Hoary Bat, and no studies have been made to determine the impact of tree removal and citric acid application on the bats and their food supply.

Since the limits of this test are the borders of the park, many frogs will escape the area while it is being cleared. Frogs already live beyond the park borders. This means the frogs will be spread by this attack, only to return when the understory grows back, making this a futile exercise in environmental destruction. 

Other animals will be killed by the citric acid being sprayed around the park, including the beloved gecko and other non-target creatures.

The frogs are being attacked at Lava Tree because they are there in large numbers. While there has been no proof or evidence that the frogs pose a threat to the environment, the Frog War clearly does pose such a threat. The attack on Lava Tree shows how destructive this war can be.

The Lava Tree destruction is only a test. Perhaps what is really being tested is how much environmental destruction the public is willing to tolerate in the name of frog control.