Two live opossums were captured today at separate locations in Honolulu Harbor, according to the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture. A third opossum was caught last month at Hilo Harbor.
The first incident occurred at 6:45 a.m., when a shipping company reported an opossum running in the container yard at Pier 1 overnight. Inspectors from the department’s Plant Quarantine Branch responded within the hour and used a pole and net to capture the animal after it sought shelter under a shipping container.
Later, at 11:00 a.m., another shipping company on the opposite end of Honolulu Harbor reported capturing an opossum in a cat trap near Pier 51. Inspectors retrieved this animal as well.
On September 15, inspectors at Hilo Harbor caught an opossum in a trap at Pier 1. This followed a report three days earlier from a shipping company employee who saw an opossum moving between vehicles on the dock. Inspectors observed the animal crawling into a vehicle’s undercarriage but could not reach it. The vehicle was then placed inside a large container with traps containing cat food and water, which eventually led to its capture.
Following established protocols for animal and human health, all three opossums were euthanized and submitted for rabies testing. The Hilo opossum tested negative for rabies, while tissue samples from the two animals caught today are being sent to the mainland United States for further testing.
There have been several previous incidents involving opossums in Hawai‘i over recent years, including captures at retail stores, freight companies, office buildings, and during cargo unloading operations. Opossums are native to North America and eat insects, bird eggs, rodents, fruits, and vegetables. While they are less likely than other mammals to carry rabies, they can transmit parasites and other diseases.
The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture urges anyone who sees an illegal animal to call its statewide pest hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378).
