They were fending for themselves 💔
A few years ago, the Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center (CWCC) received an urgent call about a group of baby skunks left to fend for themselves along the side of the road. When rescuers arrived, they found a tiny bundle of fluffballs huddled tightly together, scared and alone.
“When I arrived, they were all huddled up,” one CWCC rescuer recalled in a video for The Dodo.
The team carefully gathered all eight babies and brought them back to their rescue facility. Each skunk was given a full health check, and while most of the little ones seemed to be doing well, one stood out. She was the smallest of the litter, frail and struggling more than the others.
The rescuers named her Angel Wing.
Angel Wing wasn’t just the tiniest — she was also the most unique, with a striking black body and a little white head that set her apart from her siblings. At first, her rescuers worried she might not make it. But with round-the-clock care and plenty of love, Angel Wing surprised everyone.
“She was able to pull through, and in such a big way, and just come out and be this little but mighty character,” CWCC shared.
It didn’t take long for Angel Wing’s personality to shine through. Despite being the runt, she quickly became the troublemaker of the group. She loved to wrestle, stomp, dig, and was always the loudest of her siblings.
“Angel Wing would just be wreaking havoc,” rescuers said with a laugh.
For the CWCC team, that chaos was a good thing. Play-fighting and exploring together was crucial for the skunks’ development — and helped ensure they stayed wild and didn’t become too attached to people.
“It’s important for them to all learn together,” CWCC explained. “Then they don’t imprint on humans.”
Weeks passed, and the once-frail Angel Wing grew strong and fearless, right alongside her brothers and sisters. Eventually, the day came when all eight skunks were ready to return to the wild. For the rescuers who had worried most about Angel Wing, watching her march off into freedom was the sweetest ending of all.
“[She] probably will be the boss of the forest,” CWCC said proudly.