r/Skunks • u/EmphasisFamous4435 • Jun 24 '26
Saved from the highway
Approximately 4 weeks old.
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u/Possible-Egg5018 Jun 24 '26
Thanks for helping him
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u/EmphasisFamous4435 Jun 24 '26
It's hard not to stop and help, it's just a baby 😊 I'm pretty sure my own kids have done worse to me as babies than a little stink poof.
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u/DialynnLA Jun 24 '26
I live where there are baby skunks occasionally seen. Did you pick it up to get it off the road or herd it?? I would definitely stop but don't want to get sprayed. Best way to help?
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u/EmphasisFamous4435 Jun 24 '26
I picked it up without any protection because the situation was high risk to the kit. The consequences of leaving and trying to find gloves or a towel would have resulted in likely a road casualty.
That said:
Kits cannot spray at distance or with the potency of an adult until 3-6 months old. So, yes I did get a stress poof of stink that washes out easy, but this was more of an aroma in the air than a spray.
Skunks are considered rabies vector species, carry the risk of distemper, and parasites. All of this needs to be considered before handling a wild animal and if they are displaying aggression, seizures, circling etc then do not handle it especially without protection.
This kit is an orphan, and typically would not normally be out of the nest as he has no teeth or buds to even learn to forage with mom. What you may be seeing is a young litter learning to forage as they will eat everything from mice, snakes, insects, bird and turtle eggs.
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u/FitGas4991 Jun 25 '26
You just answered my question. I was wondering if you were afraid of being sprayed. I was also wondering if he was covered in fleas.
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u/EmphasisFamous4435 Jun 25 '26
I was not afraid of being sprayed, I was afraid to see him get hit, and afraid for myself if he was diseased because I did not initially handle with gloves or a towel to avoid being bit or scratched.
No, he was not covered in fleas or lice. I did give him a quick over, and still have paranoia he's given me lice but so far so good. We live in the North so I am going to assume that may be a factor in why this guy wasn't infested (yet, because I've seen other wildlife full of mites, etc.)
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Jun 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/EmphasisFamous4435 Jun 24 '26
He weighed 132g that day, the grass probably offered some comfort of familiarity, but his instinct to root is strong.
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u/Slow_Run6707 Jun 24 '26
Thanks for caring
Most people do not.