Coqui frogs are small in size - but the impact of their presence is huge. That's been understood for quite some time on the Big Island of Hawai'i…but it's a growing and unpleasant discovery for some residents in upcountry Maui. Eileen Chao has more from the Maui News.
A coqui frog is usually about the size of a coin - but its loud chirps can be heard from nearly a mile away. Multiply that by thousands and the volume can be brutal. Homeowners who live in the Upcountry towns of Haliimaile and Haiku report that the coqui infestation along Maliko Gulch is getting out of control.
One Haiku resident said thousands of coquis on her 2-acre property keep her up all night with non-stop screeching from dusk to dawn. And she's not alone. Experts estimate the infestation now stretches about 4-miles along the gulch.
The problem is that without snakes, the coqui has no natural predators in Hawaii to keep population levels in check. The frogs eat huge quantities of insects, which could result in a loss of pollination and food source for native species.
The Maui Invasive Species Committee has been working to control coqui populations for years. One suggestion for residents: spraying with natural citric acid. The committee says the frogs are not as established on Maui as they are in other areas like the Big Island - at least not yet.
