aww... an injured skunk

[Dookus]

I have a skunk that lives under my house. Actually, she's lived there for a long time and even had babies. Doesn't really cause me any problems, so I leave her alone. And she leaves me alone, as well as my cats. They've never had a run in with her, and I know they hang out under there, too.

Anyway, I looked out earlier and saw her struggling to get into the crawlspace. It appears her back left leg is broken or paralyzed. I feel so bad, but don't know what I can do. I accidentally trapped her once while trying to get some raccoons, and she didn't take well to be being trapped - didn't spray or anything, but got awfully "stompy".

Anyway, it was sad and I don't know what to do. I wanna help her, but not sure what i can do.

BTW... she's really beautiful.

[REP]

1. Trap Her Or Call Wildlife Rescue

Most cities/counties have one, and they'll tell you what to do. If there isn't one, call the zoo or a vet. She probably needs help. If she's hurt and in pain, she may spray when you move her, but tomato juice will remove the odor.

You might consider leaving some food where she can get to it. They'll eat catfood (it's not a complete diet for skunks, though) and they also eat vegetables and fruit - bananas seem to be a favorite. Give her some water too - if she's hurt, she probably can't get to food and water easily.

I've always liked skunks. They're cute, beautiful and smart. Best wishes for you little neighbor.

[Dookus]

5. unfortunately....

our local animal control is a mess. They just evicted the SPCA and are taking over all the dog/cat control issues that they'd contracted to the SPCA. I don't imagine they'll have anybody to come out, crawl under my house and grab an injured skunk. But I suppose I should call them tomorrow and ask at least.

[REP]

2. From skunksaspets.com

LIMPING
This could be an early warning sign of possible Arthritis, Degenerative Bone Disease or just a pulled muscle. Your skunk needs to be seen by a vet for x-rays as this is the only way to tell what is happening to your skunks' bones. Sorry, skunks do not have zippers to open up and take a look inside.

Until you can have x-rays taken of your skunk, give ONE HALF ONLY OF A BABY ASPIRIN ONCE A DAY. Too much aspirin can cause liver damage. DO NOT use Tylenol or any other Acetaminophen product, as it could kill your skunk. The safe way to take away pain is Jalapeno Peppers, and skunks think they are treats. This helps with the pain and swelling. Let your skunk swim in the tub with warm water just deep enough for the skunks' feet not to touch the bottom of the tub. Hydrotherapy benefits skunks, too! Raskey, my fifteen year old, hated baths until he became unable to walk. Now he beats me to the bathroom and bangs on the side of the tub with his paw for his daily swim.

Unless you know without a doubt that your skunk's limp comes from a pulled muscle while skydiving, have it x-rayed. If found early enough, most bone problems can be corrected before major problems occur.

[Dookus]

4. hrmm....

I haven't seen her skydiving.

But she's not a pet. She just lives under my house. I don't think I can talk her into taking an aspirin.


I suppose I should try to trap her and get her some help. I'm know I can trap her (I've already done it twice) but I'm more concerned about transporting her in my car to someplace else. I'm afraid she'll spray.

[REP]

6. I Know She's Not a Pet

but she is an animal, and animals LOVE FOOD! If you put the half baby aspirin in some mushed up banana, or wet cat food, I bet she'd eat it.

Th Skunks as Pets page is about wild skunks as pets, so the nurtitional info is good.

[Dookus]

9. I just put a bowl of catfood and some water...

by the entrance she uses to get under the house. Hopefully she'll get to it before the neighborhood racoons do.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. If you can manage to crush the asprin, you can mix it with food

I have had to do this for my cat and got a pill crusher for this purpose, but crushing it between two spoons can work. The more strong smelling or tasting the food, the better, at least with my cat.

I borrowed a ``have a heart'' trap from my local animal hospital to trap a kitty that had been abandoned and the weather was getting really bad. She's in this room with me now and I can hear her snoring. I'm not recommending that you bring this skunk in your house, but your wildlife rescue people must know which clinic in your area handles these emergencies. The veterinary clinic where I take my guys is the place in my area that handles such cases, but I doubt you're in Upstate New York. I wish you were; I would call for you since I know these folks well.

Let us know what happens. You're getting good advice from people here who really seem to know their stuff, but I know that you are still the one who has to handle it alone, and that's hard. Let us know how this turns out. I think it's great that you care.:-)

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I agree, call wildlife rescue

The veterinary clinic where I take my animals is the place that they take animals and I am always hearing stories about rescued baby squirrels or birds. They do a wonderful job. I'm sorry you don't live near me or I'd page my vet.

Also, the food and water is an excellent idea. You want to keep her as healthy as possible until she can receive the help she needs. Wild animals can die easily from shock, according to my vet, so this could make all the difference.

I like skunks, also. They are cute and quite intelligent. When I was a kid, living in a very rural setting, my dad really liked the one that lived under our house. He swore it came out to watch him leave for work every morning. Good luck and let us know how this turns out!

[REP]

7. If The Skunk's Near Me

I'll come get her! (I'm im Mountain View, CA) I just cleaned my cages, and I'm taking four cats to the vet in four hours - I can't get much more scratched up!

On edit - I see the skunk is about 40 miles from me. I'll start checking on who can help.

[Dookus]

8. hey rep...

I'm in Santa Cruz. PM me if there's anything we can work out together.

[REP]

10. Wild Life Rescue in Your Area

Rehab Centers

Native Animal Rescue
P.O. Box 1001
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
[phone]

Clearlake Wildlife Rescue
14140 Burns Valley Rd.
Clearlake, CA 95422
[phone]

Critter Care Wildlife Rescue Team
92 Oak Knoll Road
Ukiah, CA 95482
[phone]
[e-mail]

Injured & Orphaned Wildlife
P.O. Box 6793
San Jose, CA 95150
[phone]

Lake County Wildlife
11245 Lock Lomond Rd.
Middletown, CA 95461
[phone]

Lindsay Wildlife Museum
1931 First Avenue
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
[phone]
[e-mail]

Nan Pipestem Wildlife Rehab Center
P.O. Box 2244
Hollister, CA 95024-2244
831) 628-3400
[e-mail]

Peninsula Humane Society
Wildlife Care Center
12 Airport Road
San Mateo, CA 94401-1098
[phone]

Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley
3027 Penitencia Creek Rd
San Jose, CA 95132
[phone]

Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center
P.O. Box 1105
Morgan Hill, CA 95038-1105
[phone]
[e-mail]

Wildlife Rescue Inc.
4000 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
650) 494-7417

[Dookus]

12. thank you REP

I learned the two times I accidentally caught her before that if I cover up her cage, she calms down a lot. Maybe I can just catch her, cover her, and have a rescuer some to get her.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. DU is truly amazing! Last night I gave advice to someone whose

dog had been sprayed by a skunk. Tonight, you guys are getting together to save one! Good luck and Godspeed!:hi:

[Dookus]

lol...

well I may need that spray advice.

I hear it involves tomato juice.

Will ingesting bloody mary's help?

[Dookus]

14. lol...

well I may need that spray advice.

I hear it involves tomato juice.

Will ingesting bloody mary's help?

[REP]

15. Sure!

Drink a few before you catch her ... and bathe in some if she sprays!

[Dookus]

16. the first time I trapped her ....

was a slapstick comedy here at the house.

She was in the trap on my back porch. I first did a shot of schnapps and then told my bf to get on the computer and find out how to tell when a skunk is gonna spray.

While I was donning gloves, goggles, and an overcoat, he's reading out loud "It says here they like to eat grubs and worms"

I scream "YOU'RE NOT HELPING!"

Then he finds a page that says they stomp their feet three times before they spray and covering them up helps.

So I take a blanket and step outside. *STOMP* *STOMP* Throw the blanket and run.

Step back outside to adjust the blanket. *STOMP* adjust *STOMP* adjust run

Now it's time to release the critter.... step outside *STOMP* turn up the release clip *STOMP* run

Back outside release the clip *STOMP* lift the door and jam a box under it *STOMP* and run.

Two hours later I caught her again. Much easier this time. Throw a blanket over the trap, lift the lever... wait a second... pull it open, lift the lid and watch her run away.

So I'm less afraid of skunks than I would've been before....

[REP]

19. Most Skunks Prefer Stomping to Spraying

And they'll stomp more than three times, too; they hope you'll be terrified and run away. They do not seem to realize that they are far more beautiful than they are terrifying.

Since she's hurt and she knows you, she may not spray at all. I've helped capture a wild skunk, and maybe it was because she was hurt, but she seemed to know we weren't going to harm her.

[Rhiannon12866]

21. You deserve all the credit in the world! I often tell both my vets

about animal posts I have seen on DU. In fact, not long ago I got a second opinion from my vet for a woman who posted a thread about how she didn't trust her vet's advice about the medication he had prescribed for her cat. I had an appointment with my dog for the next day and asked him. It turns out she was right. My vet showed me the listing for this medication and it said ``not recommended for this species,'' meaning cats. I posted all he told me as soon as I got home and she saw it. She said she knew her instincts were right, as her other cat had gotten very sick after being given the same medication. Her cat is now fine. I ran across her recently. DU is not just political, it's an amazing resource.:D

[REP]

23. Thanks, But No I Don't!

I really like animals. I want animals to like me. Anything I do for an animal, it's just me sucking up. Except when I do anything for my cats - that I do out of fear.

In case anyone hasn't seen this a thousand times yet: Thomas, Amelia and Fannie. We who are about to be speutered salute you!

[Rhiannon12866]

24. I do remember seeing these adorable kitties

I remember the black one with the incredible eyes, especially. My cat is black, also, as was my perfect cat, Rhiannon. You have probably seen my guys, as well. I don't yet have a picture of my cat that I can post, hell, my little feral girl is snoring behind the couch, at the moment, because she knows my little dog insisted on coming in here with me and is sleeping behind me in my chair.

Yes, you do deserve credit. You know a lot and rescued a desperate situation, tonight. Also, you are doing the best for your darling little kittens. All my guys are rescue. My guys, pictured or not, and I salute you. Thanks!:hi:

Meneken and Sheena


on edit: reversed names

[REP]

25. That's Right - My Stewie is Rhiannon's Twin!

Stewart is a black smoke tabby - in the right light, you can see his "classic" tabby markings, but they do seem to be fading as he gets older. He's 7 months old now, and is a big furry love sponge. Well, they all are. Except for the babies, my cats are former strays, which means someone threw away a perfectly good Siamese! I hate them for doing that, but I am so glad she's my kitty.

Your dogs are cute!

[Rhiannon12866]

26. Thank you. They are pretty special to me.

I hope to be able to post my cat sometime, but only have the dogs available because someone kindly helped me with this.:shrug:

[radwriter0555]

27. actually, the stomping WORKS...... I promise!

Had them as pets as a kid, had em as tenants and nieghbors ever since. Wonderful, smart, gentle and humorous critters... just love em. If they think you're a big skunk (the stomping) they back off and retreat.

Good luck! You've got scads of great info here. Stinky hopefully will get the right treatment at your kind hands to return her to her rightful home under your house, healthy, fat and happy!

[cleofus1]

17. the smell

I never really minded the smell. Kinda reminded me of the pot I used to smoke in High School. On the other hand don't let that spray get you in the eyes! It stings like hell.
Don't ask....

[REP]

20. I Kind of Like the Smell

Especially when I smell it while driving it at night. I always hope I'm not smelling a skunk who lost a showdown with a car, but a skunk squirting off in the distance.

[Dookus]

22. the smell...

doesn't bother me at all, either.

Unless it's very strong. When I first moved in to my house 6 years ago, a skunk sprayed under my house. THAT was offensive.

[Rhiannon12866]

18. Here's last night's skunk spray post!

My reply #17 posts the links I found for another thread that was about this problem. There are special products out there these days, plus very effective homemade solutions. It's all here. I used tomato juice on my dog, years ago, followed by a professional bath. There are more effective treatments available these days. My friend used Masingill disposible douche on his dog, as he was told that worked. There are better things, now. Hope this helps, but that you won't need this!

SKUNKED!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=916

[gypsy11]

28. I have an albino skunk

that lives across the street form me, by a creek. I've never seen one before and it's an amazing looking creature. I'm thrilled when I see him (or her) wandering around. Just thought I share. :hi:
Good luck with helping your skunk. It always makes me happy to hear about people that care enough to help the wild things around them when they need it.

[Rhiannon12866]

29. I have never seen such an animal

but if I kick this post, the others will surely see this. I'd definitely like to hear the prognosis of that skunk we were worried about, anyway. DU is so amazing, because we probably will.

I cannot imagine an albino skunk, but I do not doubt you. It sounds like an amazing animal and I wish I could see it. I agree with you that it is wonderful that those on DU help the wild animals. There are also a lot of posts about pets, as well. If you love animals, you will find yourself among friends.

Welcome to DU, gypsy11! I think you'll feel at home here!:hi: