An extremely rare spotted skunk found injured in a West Vancouver snap trap last week has been euthanized.
The B.C. Wildlife Rescue Association had been caring for the skunk, but the wound to its paw took a turn for the worse.
“We tried the best we could but it was a case of the wound starting to get better for a while, then it plateaued and then it got gangrene and we couldn’t get (the wound) to close up,” said Yolanda Brooks, association spokeswoman. “Our vets said it didn’t stand a chance of survival.”
Though they are more common in the Interior, spotted skunks were thought to be extinct in the Lower Mainland since the 1980s. The loss of the rare creature underscores why snap traps should not be used indiscriminately, Brooks said.
“It was really unnecessary because obviously the trap was put out for a rat but got another animal. It’s sad that it was so rare and we couldn’t save it but hopefully people will think more about the traps they do put out,” she said.
