5 Rare Baby Skunks On The Mend At Owl’s Nest

ODESSA, FL — The folks at the Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife have embarked on what might be the most odoriferous, but stinking adorable rescue in the organization’s history.

It all started with a late-night urgent call for help a few weeks back, according to Ria Warner, director of education and outreach. The person on the other end of the line had come across five orphaned babies in need of help. Since the little critters happened to be eastern spotted skunk kits, the caller figured the nonprofit wildlife rescue with some incredible saves to its credit was the place to turn.

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Understanding that the orphaned kits would simply not be able to survive on their own, the sanctuary quickly dispatched a volunteer to bring them in, Warner explained in an email.

The sanctuary is known for saving all kinds of critters from eagles and otters to bobcats, but the arrival of the five kits was a new experience for the organization. “While we have helped hundreds of species heal and head back to the wild, this was our first time taking in eastern spotted skunks,” Warner explained. It didn’t take long, however, for the new arrivals to win volunteers over.

“The little stinkers stole everyone’s hearts,” she said.

Aside from their obvious cuteness, Warner said the babies are special because they are quite rare. The species is "nearly endangered, and their population is declining," she said.

Eastern spotted slunk are known to live throughout Florida with the exception of the Keys, according to the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They tend to grow to be the size of a typical house cat.
Although known for their distinct – and smelly – defense mechanism, Warner said the creatures are quite important for the ecosystem.

“They are omnivores who scavenge to help break down waste as well as hunt smaller mammals that do damage to agricultural crops, such as mice,” she said.

Under the watchful eyes of the rescue team at the Owl’s Nest, the babies are “doing great,” Warner reported Wednesday, July 19. All five have been weaned off bottles and are being introduced to solids.

“It will be a while longer before they are strong and independent enough to be released back into the wild to help conserve their species,” Warner said. “During that time, we will need additional supplies to help them on their journey.”

Owl’s Nest is a nonprofit rescue led by Kris Porter, a state and federally permitted rehabilitator. Porter and volunteers have been involved in some rather high-profile rescues in the Tampa Bay area, including the rehabilitation of an eagle that was struck by a vehicle on Clearwater’s Countryside Boulevard. The Odessa-based organization serves such Tampa Bay area counties as Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas.

To find out more about helping in the rehabilitation effort or to assist with other rescues, visit Owl’s Nest online.

Photos courtesy of the Owl's Nest