Another skunk caught at Hilo Harbor in November
By Jeremiah Estrada
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HILO, Hawaii (KITV) — Another live skunk was captured by agriculture inspectors at Hilo Harbor this month.
Agriculture inspectors from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity Plant Quarantine Branch (PQB) were told that the relative of a stevedore at Hilo Harbor saw a skunk on Thursday morning, Nov. 27, on Kanoelehua Avenue. He tried to run over the skunk but missed.
After the attempt, he said he saw the skunk run under a fence at the Hilo shipyard. Inspectors immediately searched the area where they found the skunk and caught it using a net.
The first incident also at Hilo Harbor took place on Nov. 6 — dockworkers tried to barricade the skunk at Pier 1 near cement pilings, but it was able to escape before inspectors arrived.
According to another report from that incident, a skunk had taken refuge in the undercarriage of a vehicle on the dock. Though the skunk was visible, inspectors were not able to reach it because the vehicle was enclosed in a shipping container.
Traps were set up by inspectors and the following morning, the skunk was found caught in the trap. The area was searched for any more skunks, but none were found. Inspectors set up more traps throughout the container yard for at least a week just in case, but no additional skunks were caught.
Both skunks were humanely euthanized in order to be tested for rabies. The first skunk caught on Nov. 7 tested negative and the results for the most captured are pending.
Skunks are invasive to Hawaii and they frequently arrive in the islands by hitchhiking cargo ships. The origin of these two Hilo skunks is unknown, but it is presumed that they came aboard a cargo ship because they were found near the harbor. It is also unknown whether both skunks arrived together or at separate times.
Previous skunk incidents where they have been captured include Nov. 13, 2025 at Honolulu Harbor, along with June 2025 at Kaka‘ako Waterfront Park, Feb. 2023 from a Hilo resident, Aug. 2022 at Kanaha Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary on Maui and several other Honolulu Harbor captures at Pier 1 took place in Feb. 2018, Jan. 2021, July 2021 and June 2022.
Skunks are prohibited in Hawaii and are only allowed in a municipal zoo with a research and exhibit permit. The animal is one of the four primary wild carriers of rabies in the United States. Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. and one of the few places in the world without rabies.
Any illegal and invasive species that are spotted or captured should be immediately reported to the state’s Pest Hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378).
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