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LIHUE – A skunk's second report to Hawaii appeared at the end of August, when a living skunk was found in a container in Maui, and Agriculture Department staff said it was a good thing.
This is because they are one of four wild animals considered the main carriers of the rabies virus, a deadly viral disease of mammals most often transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal. Hawaii is the only state in the United States and one of the few places in the world that does not suffer from rabies.
"If they had to settle on the islands, it would serve as a reservoir for rabies," HODA staff said Wednesday.
In February, a live skunk was captured at Pier 1 of Honolulu Harbor. This was the first recorded capture of a live skunk in Hawaii.
Workers unloading a container of ceramic tile late in the afternoon of August 30 discovered the five-pound striped skunk. They felt the skunk before finding it, but quickly found it hidden in a container and trapped it inside.
They then called agricultural inspectors at the Maui Plant Quarantine Division of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA). The Maui inspectors were sent to the company and placed two traps in the container overnight and the apparent stowaway was found in one of the traps on Friday morning.
"We appreciate the fast response of the trucking team to contain the animal and to contact HDOA inspectors," said Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, Acting President of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. "If the animal had escaped from the container, the problem would have been much bigger and we are grateful for their awareness and cooperation."
Skunks have never been reported in Kauai, but the animals are nocturnal carnivores, opportunistic eaters favoring bird eggs, small rodents, insects and fruits.
This would jeopardize the threatened population of seabirds and forest birds in Kauai, a population already facing predation by pigs, rats and feral cats, as well as habitat and other habitat loss. threats to their existence.
For example, the endangered seabird population has been declining since at least 1993 and experts are using methods to save these species, such as the creation of breeding and nesting areas free from predators and the
Studies conducted by the Endangered Kauai Seabird Recovery Project in early 2018 show between 1993 and 2013 that populations of Ao (Newell's shearwater) decreased by 94% and Uau (Hawaiian petrel) 78%. and natural resources.
Scientists say seabirds threatened by Kauai are also threatened by collisions with power lines, light attraction and invasive plants.
Acting quickly, the Maui stowaway smells good and HDOA advises those working with the containers and in the shipping industry to keep a close eye on the invaders and not to touch the invaders that they could meet.
Instead, call the agricultural inspectors and watch the animal.
"In the case of stowaways, confinement of the animal is essential and humans and other animals must not come into physical contact with it," HDOA spokeswoman Janelle Saneshi said in a statement. communicated.
The skunk was sent to Oahu for testing and the results are expected in early September.
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Jessica Else, Environmental Reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or at [email protected]
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