Guest Post: The Little Skunk that Understood

The following incredible story was experienced and written by Jack Bocchino, who I had the pleasure of virtually meeting last week via our mutual friend, Joanne. I'm so grateful that he was willing to share this, as it speaks volumes for our innate ability to connect meaningfully with all living things.

"I was on the riding lawn mower and saw a young skunk walking on the other side of the yard. I decided it would be best if I stopped mowing until it left. I noticed it was walking very slowly and seemed to be dragging something. As I approached it, I saw it had a piece of wood about 4 inches by 6 inches, but it didn’t look right. I called the neighbor over as I was not sure if he was mature enough to spray. I just kept talking to the little guy and we realized it had a large mouse trap on its head and neck. I could see that the top of its paw was covered with blood and thought it had dripped from a head wound. The neighbor felt it best if he killed it and went to get a 22 rifle. I was not thrilled with this, but I didn’t want the skunk to suffer either.

"While the neighbor was gone, I went in the garage. I came out with heavy gloves and a long pair of pliers. The little guy kept crying and he also postured himself for a fight. So I talked to the skunk for a while. (Yes, I talked out loud.) I told him I might be his last hope. I’m the only friend he has on the street. I told him that if he bites me or sprays me, in all likelihood he will die.

"What ever it was, the little guy calmed down and turned his head, which exposed the metal part of the trap. He never took his eyes off me, but he never hissed or growled again either. I got hold of the wooden part of the trap and turned him a bit. The only blood on his head and neck appeared to be from his paw. He must have tried for quite a while to free himself. I grabbed the metal part of the trap and was able to free him.

"He just kind of stood there, so I said, 'Let’s see you walk.' As he walked, his limping got less and less. He ended up going into the other neighbor’s yard.

"Had I been smart, I would have had a towel or blanket (and a box). I could have taken him to the fields across the street. Luckily, I managed to do what I did before the first neighbor got his rifle. Hopefully the little guy survived the night."

The moral of the story, Jack stresses, is NOT that wild animals can be tamed or that humans should intervene for wild animals who appear to be in need. In fact, he doesn't even condone his own actions as a general rule. In most situations, the best thing to do for an injured wild animal is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or local wildlife protection agency, or to simply allow Mother Nature to work her own magic.

But in this case, Jack was moved to step in since he realized that none of the aforementioned options would be given room to play out. Something certainly compelled him to do what most people would find unthinkable--to calmly sit beside, talk to, and then reach for a skunk--at the risk of being bitten, scratched, or worse, sprayed.

The amazing (or perhaps not so amazing) thing to note here is that Jack's strategy worked! Compassion, patience, respect, and kindness can go a long way in our interconnected world.