The Honolulu Harbor seems to be turning into a playground for some wily non-native mammals. Earlier today, two live opossums were nabbed at separate locations within the harbor, reminiscent of a scenario in September when another opossum played hide-and-seek with inspectors at Hilo Harbor. According to a release on the Hawaii Department of Agriculture's website, the first vagrant was spotted pandemonium-style at Pier 1 and was promptly captured by quick-acting Agriculture inspectors, sporting a pole and a net combo.
Not to be outdone, a second rogue opossum was caught in the act by another shipping company at Pier 51. This critter found itself trapped in a cat trap, likely lured by the irresistible scent of a meal not meant for its consumption. Upon notification, inspectors swooped in to retrieve the misplaced marsupial. Meanwhile, the opossum shenanigans in Hilo last month involved a sneaky individual that eluded capture initially before being trapped using the old cat food and water trick in a confined space. In a statement obtained by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, these marsupials are being treated with the utmost care, even in their unfortunate end as they are humanely euthanized and sent for rabies testing.
Opossum incursions seem to be a quirky little series of events in Hawai'i's history. The captures date as far back as 2005, with these wanderers being discovered in places ranging from military aircraft to post offices, and more recently at a Kona big-box store.
The authorities in Hawai'i don't just play a game of catch-up with these opossums. They're quite serious about their work, seeing as the opossums, despite being known for their low rabies risk, do carry other parasites and diseases. There's a "no questions asked" hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378) for anyone who spots an illegal animal. The captured opossums from today are awaiting testing on the mainland, as did the Hilo opossum, which tested negative for rabies. The vigilant citizens who spot these wildlife outlanders are encouraged to participate in the efforts to maintain the island’s delicate ecological balance and report sightings immediately.
