Yesterday, when K was finishing the lawn, he found an injured baby. Isn't it cute?He came for the camera, but then asked if he could keep it and try to nurse it back to health. It looked dehydrated and had some sort of fly attracting injury on his back side, but we didn't pry too much because that area of a skunk is not something you want in your face.
Just in case.
After a few droppers of water and a few kernels of cat food, Lil' Pepe showed a bit more life. We, then, had to find a way to keep the flies away, because maggots swimming in rotten flesh isn't pleasant for anyone.
Established for the night, we thought we had a chance to heal this stray. I was really excited because I need more egg eating skunks to compete with the egg eating rat snakes.
This morning, Lil' Pepe was dead.
And I was actually sad. I tell you he was just too cute not to want to keep him.
It's probably good thing Mr. W is out of town. I doubt he would have been moved to care.
8 comments:
Sorry that Lil' Pepe didn't make it. A friend grew up with a skunk as a family pet ... descented I'm sure. Her family always got a kick out of the reaction when the skunk would jump up on the couch next to a new visitor.
That is sad...he was adorable! At least you gave him a comfortable last night.
It was worth a try, so worth a try; but you can't do any more than nature allows for, I guess.
Such a cutie! My heart is wrenched.
Very cute. And good to have done what you could for him. I have a genuine question about the value of the maggots, though. As I understand it they ONLY eat rotten flesh and thus can aid healing by cleaning out the wound. Icky, clearly, but possibly beneficial. Or am I mistaken?
Maggots can be an asset if conditions are favorable, but we've found when we are trying to heal a wild one that once the maggots arrive the chances of survival dwindle.
Most of the research with theraputic maggot use is done in a very controlled circumstances so that once the dead tissue is removed the maggots can be removed if they continue eating. In the deep south, infestation or myiasis where the larvae feed on living tissue is not rare. Things multiply like wild here with the heat and humidity.
What a sweet furry baby-I think I'm going to cry.
Oh, what a darling baby. I'm so sorry he didn't make it. I don't think I'm really a skunk person, but he was just too cute.
What a cute little baby.
I am sorry he didn't make it.
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