Opossum caught near Honolulu Harbor
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A live opossum was captured Friday morning by workers offloading a cargo ship at Honolulu Harbor.
The workers spotted the animal about 3:30 a.m., and chased it into a trash container, the state Department of Agriculture said.
The ship had arrived from San Diego. Opossums are known to hitchhike in cargo containers.
Opossums are native to North America and are omnivorous, with diets that range from insects, bird eggs, and rodents to fruits and vegetables.
Although opossums are less likely to carry rabies than other mammals, they are carriers of parasites and other diseases.
Opossums have been caught in Honolulu before.
In July 2015, an opossum was captured in Kakaako near the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Office.
In July 2012, an opossum was caught in a cat trap at a Sand Island warehouse, and in August 2011, one was found in a shipping container as it was being unloaded in the Ward Center area.
Anyone who spots illegal animals in the islands is asked to call 643-PEST.
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