Last night, a skunk was caught at Honolulu Harbor after evading capture since it was first spotted at Pier 1's parking lot early last Thursday. Officials from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) reported the capture.
The saga began last Thursday at 3:00 a.m. when the HDOA's Plant Quarantine Branch received a report of a skunk in the parking lot, prompting inspectors to set traps. Despite security alerts and sightings from U.S. Immigration Office personnel, efforts to capture the skunk were unsuccessful until last night.
Finally, at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, the skunk was observed taking refuge under a cargo container, according to a statement obtained by the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture. Inspectors used nets and poles to capture the skunk while trying to avoid the odor. The skunk is currently undergoing rabies testing.
This incident is similar to previous skunk sightings at Pier 1 in February 2018, January 2021, July 2021, and June 2022, as well as on Maui in December 2020 and August 2018. Fortunately, all captured skunks have tested negative for rabies, a disease that Hawai‘i has historically managed to avoid through strict control measures.
Skunks, besides their notorious scent glands, are also recognized as one of the primary wild carriers of rabies in the U.S., which makes their presence in rabies-free Hawaii more than just a smelly nuisance. Per state regulations, skunks are strictly prohibited unless for severely restricted purposes such as research or zoo exhibitions.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to report any sightings or captures of illegal and invasive species. The state has a toll-free Pest Hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378) to help protect the islands’ unique ecosystem and keep rabies at bay.
