06/03/2024
👍🏼🦨♥️
Part of a Wildlife Rehabilitators time is spent helping to educate the public. There are many misconceptions regarding wildlife. One of the more common misconceptions is that wildlife seen out during the daytime MUST be sick. I also hear people say that skunks are aggressive and just go around spraying. Actually skunks do NOT spray without giving a warning. Also skunks will NOT spray without being provoked or feeling threatened. After a skunk sprays it leaves them vulnerable for up to 10 days. Skunks don't see well. They cannot run fast. They do have good hearing and a keen sense of smell.
If you do happen upon a skunk, just move slowly and talk softly. The skunk will see that you pose no threat and it will move on its way.
This baby skunk came into rehab after his mother was shot. She was thought to be sick and aggressive. In fact, she was a hungry, single mom, with little mouths to feed. So she went foraging during daytime hours. The baby was found several days later. Thankfully his finder brought him to us. They also now know a little more about skunks and the benefits of having them hang around.♥️♥️