A cheerful young boy was strolling through the streets of Hammond, Louisiana, enjoying an ordinary day with no idea that something unexpected was about to happen. At one moment, he noticed a fuzzy lump sitting close to a storm drain.
Right away, he sensed that something was not right, but instead of taking action himself, he called his parents to check it out.
They soon arrived at the location and, after seeing what was happening, chose to call for professional help right away.
Rescued Just In Time
Lying helplessly near the storm drain was a baby skunk, also called a kit. The kind family was heartbroken to see the tiny creature in such a state, but they didn’t feel comfortable intervening directly.
Instead, they reached out to animal experts at Geaux Wild Rehab, a wildlife rehabilitation center based in Hammond, Louisiana.
Tisha Raiford, the center’s director, asked them to bring the baby skunk to their facility and was deeply thankful for their willingness to help.
“I am so thankful for people who stop to rescue an innocent life and don’t just turn their backs and keep going by,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
Once the kit arrived at the center, Tisha was even more relieved to find that the young animal had been saved just in time. Maggots were found on a delicate part of her body, and if they hadn’t been treated quickly, they could have done serious harm.
“I am so glad she was found because maggots can cause so much damage. Praying that she will be strong and healthy and NOT poof again,” Tisha wrote in the post.
Thanks to the skilled care provided by veterinarians, the baby skunk was soon out of immediate danger.
“Spicy Little Thing”
After spending some time recovering at the rehabilitation center, the little skunk showed clear signs of improvement and regained her health.
“She’s thriving,” Tisha told The Dodo. “She’s eating and growing just as she should … She’s a spicy little thing. She likes to spray.”
Once overlooked by others passing by, this baby skunk now had a second chance, surrounded by people who cared about her well-being.
All she needed now was the perfect ending: returning to the wild where she truly belongs. Luckily, that happy outcome was right around the corner, and seven other skunks from the center would be joining her.
“She’ll go in that group of eight,” Tisha said. “And the whole group will be released together.”