MoonShine Wildlife Rehab stands out from most animal rescue centers. Their focus is on helping sick, injured, or abandoned wild animals recover and get ready to thrive in their natural habitat again. They work with a wide range of animals such as squirrels, porcupines, foxes, owls, raccoons, and even skunks.
One particularly heartwarming tale from MoonShine involves a tiny and smart baby skunk. This little skunk, known as a “kit,” arrived at the center when it was already five months old. However, it didn’t look anywhere near its age. The poor kit was skinny, had patchy fur, and even struggled to keep its balance. Christine, a dedicated worker at MoonShine, was puzzled by the skunk’s size and condition, as it didn’t seem right for its age. But soon, the mystery was solved.
Once this kit discovered food, it turned into quite the eater! With a healthy appetite, it didn’t take long for the baby skunk to start growing and putting on weight. The skunk, with its newfound strength, also revealed its adventurous spirit. Even though it was kept in a cage for safety reasons, it made full use of any time it had outside, exploring every little corner it could.
This curiosity quickly gained him fans. One thing that really stood out about this little skunk was its quirky way of walking. He had what Christine called “the stomps.” At first, it started with small stomps using his tiny front paws. Over time, the stomping became more deliberate, and it looked like he was truly enjoying it. The stomps even evolved into him doing little handstands, followed by a stomp on his feet when he landed.
While the kit didn’t have any siblings, he wasn’t alone. He shared his space with other skunk kits, and soon, they were all joining in on the stomping fun. Christine was the kit’s favorite person, and every time she came around, he made sure to put on a show. He’d proudly display his skills, turning around, lifting his tail, and stomping with joy.
Even though skunks are known for their ability to spray, Christine wasn’t worried about being sprayed by the little guy, as he hadn’t developed that capability just yet. Over time, as the skunk continued to grow, his fur became fuller, and his natural instincts began to sharpen. His wild side was coming through, and Christine helped him practice exploring outdoors, waiting for the day when he’d weigh enough—around 6 pounds—to return to the wild.
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The National Park Service has a plan to potentially euthanize up to 170 feral cats under the guise of nuisance control. Demand a policy that protects these cats!
Once he reached that healthy weight, Christine knew it was time for him to go back to where he belonged. This little skunk, along with two others, was finally ready to be released. His wild instincts kicked in right away—he didn’t need any lessons on how to find worms for food.
After months of care and love at MoonShine Wildlife Rehab, the adorable stomping skunk was back in the wild, where he could live out his life as nature intended.
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