Staff members at All Things Wild Rehabilitation in Georgetown, Texas, were feeding the animals in their outdoor enclosures when they noticed someone sniffing around nearby, searching for scraps. They glanced his way — and immediately did a double take.
The wild visitor was a curious skunk, and he was almost completely naked.
All Things Wild Rehabilitation
The poor skunk had a bad case of mange and was bald over most of his body. He was hungry and exhausted, and the staff members instantly wanted to help him. First, they would need to catch him somehow, which they thought would be tricky. As it turned out, the skunk seemed to know that the rehabilitation center was exactly where he needed to be.
“All of a sudden, he just started showing up every day,” April, director of the rehabilitation center, told The Dodo. “It was almost like he knew where to go for help. We rescue dozens of skunks a year, but this was the first time one came to us for help on his own.”
All Things Wild Rehabilitation
Staff members set up a humane trap with some food and waited for the skunk to go inside. Finally, they found him there one morning, munching on snacks and waiting for his rescuers. He was ready to be helped.
The first order of business was to get the new patient checked out and treated for his mange. He received the medication he needed to both heal and soothe his skin, but it will take a while for his fur to grow back. The skunk will remain in the center’s care for the winter months, and once he’s fluffy and healed, he can head back into the wild in the spring.
All Things Wild Rehabilitation
Everyone at the center has already fallen head over heels for their new skunk friend, even though he’s still pretty stressed out from both his condition and his change in environment. The staff members are working on helping him feel relaxed, though. He just needs a little time.
“He’s actually kinda sweet now that he’s calmed down,” Lauren, a wildlife care tech at All Things Wild, told The Dodo.
Somehow, the skunk knew where he needed to go for help, and now he’s getting exactly that.
If you’d like to help care for the skunk, you can donate to All Things Wild Rehabilitation.
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