Physically Challenged Skunk

[RichZ]

I'm with the guys who say watch and wait. I'm a wildlife rehabilatator, and it's amzing how wild animals adapt to disabling injuries. There are also diseases that could cause the symptoms, but the skunk would be dead in a few days. If it's been around like that for more than a few days, it's almost certainly an injury. Skunks are very intelligent, and very adaptable. It would be a shame to kill it, if it has managed to adapt to it's situation, and doesn't appear to be suffering.

 

[mikim]

my view: option 1 - leave it alone and maybe it won't die under the deck ----- option 2 - make sure it doesn't die under the deck.
mike

 

[Argee]

Shoot it! Kill it! Throw it on the burn pile!

 

[micromike]

When I was a teenager back in the 70's I used to pheasant hunt on a friends farm. One winter I saw a fox dragging it's hind end just like you described. It was amazing how fast that fox could run! I could never get close enough for a shot but I saw it many times that winter. It seemed perfectly healthy.

No need to kill it if it's only "disabled." If it's not healty that's another story. You'll know soon enough.

Mike

 

[CVHoss]

Though I hunt, I don't go around shooting critters just to watch them die. This is not the case here. If you have kids, grandkids or pets around, remove the skunk immediately. If you don't feel like you want to do it yourself, call animal control. The skunk is at the best, suffering, at the worst, rabid. For the safety of your loved ones and to end the animals suffering, dispatch it or have someone else do it. If you do it yourself, be careful about how you dispose of the carcass in case it is rabid. I would suggest burning to prevent another animal from digging it up.

Hoss