Obese skunk diets after getting fat on bacon sandwiches

An obese skunk which piled on the pounds because of a love of bacon sandwiches has slimmed down after being put on a strict diet.

24 Dec 2009

Mr Bumble has lost 4.4lb (2kg) on a gruelling weight loss regime involving eating more healthily and taking regular exercise.

The two-year-old skunk was given to Tropiquaria Zoo at Washford Cross, Somerset, in September.

His previous owners could no longer care for him and handed him over to the RSPCA but admitted that they had fed him bacon sandwiches.

Chris Moiser, the park's owner, said Mr Bumble weighed one stone (6.8kg) when he first arrived and needed to lose 5 to 6lb (2.2 to 2.7kg).

He has two half-hour walks each day and a disciplined diet of vegetables and fruit, with the occasional cricket as a treat.

Mr Moiser said the animal needs to lose another 2lbs but was being allowed more animal protein in his diet.

''Mr Bumble is looking much better: we were worried about his health,'' he said.

''He has been on a strict vegetable and fruit diet and we take him out on a lead twice a day, letting him run back to his cage.

''He doesn't sleep as much as he did and seems to be a lot more active and interested in what is going on around him.

''I'm sure he misses the bacon sandwiches.''

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6875445/Obese-skunk-diets-after-getting-fat-on-bacon-sandwiches.html

'Skunk whisperer' in peanut butter rescue

A skunk in Oklahoma who got his head stuck in a jar of peanut butter was rescued with the help of a passer-by and a man known as the "skunk whisperer."

By Nick Collins
Published: 1:30PM BST 14 Oct 2009

Teresa Vick was delivering newspapers when she noticed the disorientated creature with the jar stuck on its head outside a Community Centre in Bixby, Oklahoma.

Ms Vick enlisted the help of Ned "The Skunk Whisperer" Bruha, who used chloroform to sedate the animal before easing the jar off its head, and the grateful skunk even refrained from spraying him as it ran away unharmed.

She told News on 6, a Tulsa-based television station, "I just stood next to [the skunk] and he kept running into my feet and didn't spray me or anything, just as sweet as can be."

Mr Bruha said: "All wildlife wants is food, water and shelter. Peanut butter is irresistible to this skunk. They are opportunistic and they are going to take advantage of any bit of food they can get.

"This guy found peanut butter and he got himself into a little bit of trouble."

'Skunk whisperer' in peanut butter rescue

A skunk in Oklahoma who got his head stuck in a jar of peanut butter was rescued with the help of a passer-by and a man known as the "skunk whisperer."

By Nick Collins
Published: 1:30PM BST 14 Oct 2009

Teresa Vick was delivering newspapers when she noticed the disorientated creature with the jar stuck on its head outside a Community Centre in Bixby, Oklahoma.

Ms Vick enlisted the help of Ned "The Skunk Whisperer" Bruha, who used chloroform to sedate the animal before easing the jar off its head, and the grateful skunk even refrained from spraying him as it ran away unharmed.

She told News on 6, a Tulsa-based television station, "I just stood next to [the skunk] and he kept running into my feet and didn't spray me or anything, just as sweet as can be."

Mr Bruha said: "All wildlife wants is food, water and shelter. Peanut butter is irresistible to this skunk. They are opportunistic and they are going to take advantage of any bit of food they can get.

"This guy found peanut butter and he got himself into a little bit of trouble."

Dogs surprised by skunk

Two dogs who chased what they thought was a cat in West Yorkshire had a shock when their quarry turned out to be a skunk.

Pub landlord Dave Bennett was walking his two dogs in Keighley town centre when they shot off to chase the black-and-white animal.

But Jack Russell Chewy and King George Spaniel Tilly got more than they bargained for, reports the Bradford Telegraph and Argus.

Mr Bennett, 59, said: "As soon as I got close I could see it was a skunk. Chewy had it cornered before I got to him and got sprayed. It smelt awful.

"He still smells of it and I have bathed him and the spaniel because it got him as well."

Mr Bennett called the RSPCA to capture the skunk, which was thousands of miles away from its usual habitat.

RSPCA inspector Dave Holgate said: "The skunk is in reasonable body condition which makes me think it's either recently escaped or it's been dumped.

"Thankfully we managed to avoid being sprayed, which is a really unpleasant experience, though the dog that first came across it wasn't so lucky."

The skunk is being cared for by the RSPCA until an appropriate home can be found.

Inspector Holgate added: "We've called it Bud because it's American and was found under a buddleia bush.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3231613.html