A skunk was captured by Honolulu police at Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park after a report of the animal running around near Keawe Street. The incident occurred last night, and the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture was promptly contacted. Three agriculture inspectors were dispatched to the scene at approximately 10:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they found that police officers had already contained the skunk in a plastic trash bin. The skunk has since been humanely euthanized for rabies testing.
The origin of the skunk remains unknown, but its presence near Honolulu Harbor suggests it may have arrived by hitchhiking on cargo ships. This is not an isolated incident; skunks have previously been captured at Honolulu Harbor in February 2018, January 2021, July 2021, and June 2022.
On Maui, there have been similar occurrences with live skunks being captured at Kahului Harbor in December 2020 and at a trucking company in August 2018. Additionally, a skunk was caught by the Department of Land and Natural Resources at Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary in August 2022. In Hilo, a resident trapped a skunk using a mongoose trap in February 2023. All these previously captured skunks tested negative for rabies.
Skunks are prohibited in Hawai‘i due to their potential threat to native ground-nesting birds as avid egg-eaters. They are common across mainland U.S., Canada, South America, Mexico, and other regions worldwide. In the U.S., they are recognized as one of four primary wild carriers of rabies—a fatal viral disease typically transmitted through bites from infected animals. Notably, Hawai‘i is free from rabies and remains one of few places globally without this disease.
Residents are encouraged to report sightings or captures of illegal and invasive species to the state’s Pest Hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378).
