Hooded Skunk Release
Just in time for Halloween next week, this young Hooded Skunk found himself in a truly frightening situation when he became trapped in a glue trap positioned near a water hose. As he struggled to escape, his tail became tangled tightly around the hose and a member of Tucson Wildlife Center’s rescue team had to carefully cut the hose to bring him in for treatment.
Once safely at TWC, the wildlife care team shaved away the glue and fur to remove the trap and hose. The end of his tail had been torqued so tightly that circulation never returned, resulting in tissue damage. After a week of monitoring and care, our veterinarian amputated the damaged tip of his tail.
He recovered quickly and has since been released back into the wild (watch video for his full journey). While his tail is now a bit shorter—giving him the look of a striped skunk rather than his usual long, flowing “hooded” tail—it will not affect his ability to communicate or thrive. He can still raise his tail high to signal when he’s feeling defensive.
Other animals may not be so lucky. Glue traps might seem like a simple solution to pest problems, but they can cause extreme suffering and often death for both wildlife and pets. TWC recommends humane alternatives like Havahart catch-and-release traps. If you find an animal caught in a glue trap, do not attempt to remove the animal from the trap yourself. Call Tucson Wildlife Center for help.
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