Police capture skunk at Kakaako Waterfront Park
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Police capture skunk at Kakaako Waterfront Park
Honolulu Police captured a skunk Wednesday night at Kakaako Waterfront Park. The state agency said it’s not clear how the creature got to Oahu and how long it has been here. Skunks have been captured in Feb. 2018, Jan. 2021, July 2021, June 2022, and Oct. 2024 after apparently hitchhiking aboard cargo ships. Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. and one of the few places in the world that is free of rabies.
What You Need To Know Police officers captured the skunk in a plastic trash bin
HDOA is testing the skunk for rabies, which requires euthanizing the animal
The state agency said it’s not clear how the creature got to Oahu and how long it has been here, but noted that the area it was found is right next to Honolulu Harbor
Police contacted the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, which dispatched three agriculture inspectors at 10:30 p.m. By the time they arrived on scene, police officers had already captured the skunk in a plastic trash bin.
HDOA is testing the skunk for rabies, which requires euthanizing the animal.
The state agency said it’s not clear how the creature got to Oahu and how long it has been here, but noted that the area it was found is right next to Honolulu Harbor. Skunks have been captured in Feb. 2018, Jan. 2021, July 2021, June 2022, and Oct. 2024 after apparently hitchhiking aboard cargo ships. On Maui, inspectors captured a skunk at Kahului Harbor in December 2020 and another at a trucking company in August 2018. Also on Maui, the Department of Land and Natural Resources captured a skunk at Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary in August 2022. In 2023, a Hilo resident caught a skunk in a mongoose trap. All previously captured skunks have tested negative for rabies.
The state of Hawaii prohibits skunks, which are only allowed with a permit for research and exhibition in a municipal zoo. Skunks live in the continental U.S., Canada, South America, Mexico and other parts of the world. The Centers for Disease and Control considers skunks, bats, foxes, and racoons to be the four primary wild carriers of rabies, a fatal viral disease of mammals that is often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. and one of the few places in the world that is free of rabies.
Honolulu police capture skunk
Honolulu police captured a skunk at Kakaako Waterfront Park on Wednesday night. The origin of the skunk is unknown. The park is adjacent to Honolulu Harbor where skunks have been captured in the past after hitchhiking on cargo ships. Skunks are prohibited in Hawaii due to them being avid egg-eaters which would pose a threat to Hawaii’s native ground-nesting birds.
HPD responded to a call reporting a skunk was running around the park near Keawe Street.
Police contacted the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and three agriculture inspectors were dispatched at about 10:30 p.m.
When the inspectors arrived, police officers had contained the skunk in a plastic trash bin.
Inspectors took the skunk and humanely euthanized it to test for the rabies virus.
The origin of the skunk is unknown. However, the park is adjacent to Honolulu Harbor where skunks have been captured in the past after hitchhiking on cargo ships.
In the past, skunks have been spotted and captured by stevedores at Honolulu Harbor in February 2018, January 2021, July 2021 and June 2022
All previously captured skunks have tested negative for rabies.
Skunks are prohibited in Hawaii due to them being avid egg-eaters which would pose a threat to Hawaii’s native ground-nesting birds if they became established.
In the U.S., skunks are recognized as one of the four primary wild carriers of rabies, a fatal viral disease of mammals that is often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal.
Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. and one of the few places in the world that is free of rabies.
Sightings or captures of illegal and invasive species should be reported to the state’s Pest Hotline 808-643-PEST (7378)
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Source: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/news/2025/06/20/skunk-captured-at-kakaako-waterfront-park