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Entangled Skunk Freed In Smelly Aptos Rescue

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Feb 9, 2010 9:38 am US/Pacific

Entangled Skunk Freed In Smelly Aptos Rescue

APTOS (BCN) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 2: A veterinarian works on a sedated skunk which had gotten its head stuck in a batting cage net.
Rebecca Dmytryk/WildRescue
Click to enlarge 2 of 2: The sedated skunk prior to being released back into the wild.
Rebecca Dmytryk/WildRescue

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A Bay Area wildlife rescue organization came to the aid of a male skunk that got its head entangled in a batting cage in Aptos Monday morning.

Rebecca Dmytryk, who operates rescue nonprofit WildRescue, said she received a call from a female homeowner around 12:45 p.m. saying that a skunk had gotten his head entangled in the net of a batting cage in her backyard.

The cage netting is similar to gill net, which is typically used to trap fish, she said.

"When animals get into a net like that, they poke their heads through and get entangled," Dmytryk said.

In this case, the skunk poked his head through the net, got it stuck, panicked and then started spinning. When rescuers arrived, they managed to free the skunk but the net remained wrapped around his head.

Dmytryk and the rescuers drove the skunk to a vet in Los Gatos. The vet met the rescuers in a parking lot in Los Gatos and sedated the skunk. Once sedated the vet was able to quickly cut off the netting, according to Dmytryk.

The skunk was then given rehydrating fluids, returned to Aptos and released back into its natural habitat by about 7:00 p.m.

"Skunks are amazing, wonderful animals. They eat rats and mice... they eat our garbage. I hope he makes it through the process," Dmytryk said.

She said removing him from the cage was somewhat of an unpleasant experience. Rescuers approached the skunk carefully with blankets to prevent being sprayed. But the skunk sprayed itself, the blankets, the bucket, and himself, multiple times, Dmytryk said. She said the odor resemble "the most intense mix of sweet onions and garlic."

The WildRescue organization is dedicated to developing programs that promote the care of sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife.

Dmytryk urged anyone who witnesses an animal in distress and in need of rescuing to call WildRescue at (866) WILD-911 or page her at (831) 429-2323.