A lot of people will probably turn up their noses at this idea (maybe hold their noses too) but some rescued skunks need your help.
Centre Wildlife Care is rehabilitating two orphaned striped skunks but has no place to release them.
The organization is searching for people who are willing to allow the skunks to live on their property — and hosting the skunks does actually offer some benefits.
Skunks are often misrepresented, says CWC Director Robyn Graboski, adding that they are great for pest and bug control control.
“They’re really good mousers. We have an educational skunk, Violet, that’s in our educational room down stairs, and occasionally we have mice that come in,” Graboski says. “If they get into the educational room, Violet will kill them.”
Besides rodents and insects, skunks also eat fruits such as wild berries and even dead animal carcasses.
Graboski says they are looking for a large woodland property that doesn’t have many neighbors, and doesn’t include any of the skunks’ arch enemies: dogs.
Dogs tend to attack and scare skunks very easily, and the only time skunks use their spray is when they are afraid.
“We don’t want to release skunks in residential neighborhoods, farm areas or public parks,” Graboski says. “We want to release them more remotely away from possible dangers for the skunks. We want them not only to be in good habitat, we want them to survive.”
The property owners will rarely see the skunks after they are released, Graboski says. The animals are nocturnal and naturally hide during the day.
The skunks have been de-wormed and vaccinated for rabies.
They are approximately four to eight weeks old, but CWC is waiting for them to grow a little bigger before turning them loose.
“We like them to be at least 8-10 inches long before they’re released because they would naturally be foraging for food,” Graboski says. “We like them to be a little bigger, so that they have some size on them and they can defend themselves.”
Robyn says CWC has already taken in more than 20 orphaned skunks this year. Often their mothers are run over by cars or trapped and relocated.
The skunks will live for about two to three years after they are released, but Graboski says it’s a great feeling knowing they’ll spend the rest of their lives in the wild.
“When you rehabilitate that many animals you’re glad to see them go,” Graboski says. “I’m glad to see them out in their natural habitat that’s more normal and more natural for them.”
If you want to volunteer to help these orphaned skunks, contact CWC at (814)-692-0004.
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