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FUND FOR ANIMALS WILDLIFE CENTER ©2007
The little skunk who was rescued from a freshly-dug grave recovers at the Fund for Animals Wildlife Center. |
A young skunk had fallen into a freshly dug hole and needed rescue.
Staff at The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center in Southern California responded immediately to the address given by the frantic caller, only discovering upon arrival that the location was a cemetery. The hole the skunk had fallen into was actually a freshly dug grave, and it was far too deep for little guy to climb out of on his own. Skunks have bad eyesight—the Mr. Magoos of the animal world—and they often fall into holes, window wells, and apparently, graves.
Few people get lowered into a six-foot deep, coffin-shaped hole and come back up alive—unless they happen to be on TV's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." But when Fund staffer Kim D'Amico took one look into the deep dark hole and saw the terrified little skunk, she slayed her fears and dove right in.
Back from the Grave
While cemetery workers put a ladder into the hole, Kim grabbed a skunk-sized transport cage and began her descent. Once she reached the bottom, she threw a towel over the skunk to calm him down, scooped him up, placed him into the carrier, and quickly climbed back up to fresh air.
Frightened and possibly injured, the rescued skunk, stomped his feet and sprayed his aura all the way to the top of the ladder. The workers backed away, giving Kim and the skunk a wide berth. So relieved to be out of the grave with the rescued skunk, Kim didn't mind smelling a little odd on the way back to the center.
No Worse for the Wear
The little skunk was taken to The Fund's medical facility and examined for injuries. Because no one knew how long he had been in the hole, he received some fluids under his skin to perk him up and prevent dehydration. Fortunately, he had no injuries, but he was hospitalized overnight to rest and have a nice meal.
By the next afternoon, the skunk was literally bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. He was released into his home territory, none the worse for the frightening experience (though he might be a little more careful crossing the cemetery grounds). As for Kim, she has another good tale to tell when she describes a typical day at work.
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Posted September 26, 2007
