Honolulu Police Capture Skunk at Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park for Rabies Testing

A skunk was captured by Honolulu Police at Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park after a 911 call about the animal running near Keawe Street, prompting a response from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. The skunk was contained in a plastic trash bin until inspectors arrived and subsequently humanely euthanized it to test for rabies, as Hawaii remains the only rabies-free state in the U.S. The origin of the skunk is unknown, but it is believed to have hitchhiked aboard cargo ships at nearby Honolulu Harbor, where multiple skunks have been captured in previous years. Skunks are prohibited in Hawaii due to their threat to native ground-nesting birds, as they are avid egg-eaters, and they are one of the four primary wild carriers of rabies in the continental U.S. All previously captured skunks in Hawaii have tested negative for rabies. Residents are encouraged to report sightings or captures of illegal or invasive species to the state's Pest Hotline.