A joyful young boy was walking through the streets of Hammond, Louisiana, enjoying a typical day with no idea that something unusual was about to unfold. As he passed by a storm drain, he noticed a fuzzy lump resting nearby.
He immediately sensed something was off. Instead of approaching it himself, he called his parents to come take a look.
They arrived shortly after and, upon seeing the situation, decided to contact professionals right away.
Rescued Just In Time
Curled up near the storm drain was a baby skunk, also known as a kit. The compassionate family was heartbroken to see the small creature in such a vulnerable state, but they didn’t feel comfortable handling it themselves.
So they reached out to Geaux Wild Rehab, a wildlife rescue center located in Hammond, Louisiana.
Tisha Raiford, the director of the facility, asked the family to bring the baby skunk to their center and expressed deep gratitude for their decision to help.
“I am so thankful for people who stop to rescue an innocent life and don’t just turn their backs and keep going by,” she wrote in a Facebook post.
When the kit arrived at the center, Tisha was relieved to discover the animal had been rescued just in time. Maggots were found on a sensitive part of her body, and without prompt treatment, they could have caused serious harm.
“I am so glad she was found because maggots can cause so much damage. Praying that she will be strong and healthy and NOT poof again,” Tisha wrote in the post.
Thanks to the expert care provided by the veterinary team, the baby skunk was quickly stabilized and out of immediate danger.
A Feisty Fighter On The Mend
After spending time recovering at the rehab center, the little skunk began showing clear signs of progress and regained her strength.
“She’s thriving,” Tisha told The Dodo. “She’s eating and growing just as she should … She’s a spicy little thing. She likes to spray.”
Once ignored by passersby, this baby skunk now had a renewed chance at life, surrounded by people who truly cared for her.
All that remained was the final step, returning to the wild where she belonged. Fortunately, that moment was fast approaching, and she wouldn’t be alone.
“She’ll go in that group of eight,” Tisha said. “And the whole group will be released together.”
Crocodile Attempts To Take Down Buffalo
The patient crocodile waited still as a log in the water while a herd of buffalo gathered around to drink from a waterhole in the Kruger National Park.
Stealthy croc hides beneath water surface
This was a particularly large herd and it seemed none of the members noticed the crocodile, whose head could be seen just above the water’s surface.
This is because he dared not move. He was an experienced hunter, using patience to his advantage as he waited for the opportune moment to strike.
The clip shows him moving closer to some buffalo as they leaned forwards to drink. His eyes were just visible to those watching the scene, however, the buffalo failed to notice him.
Animals are vulnerable to crocodile and predator attacks while they drink, as their defenses are down, and their attention is often focused on the water they are drinking.
Taking full opportunity of the moment, the crocodile brazenly approaching the drinking buffalo.
Crocodile disappears beneath the surface in preparation to attack
When the croc was fairly close, he disappeared beneath the surface and could be seen no more.
This was when spectators at the scene must’ve held their breath. Where was the crocodile, and which buffalo was he preparing to strike?
There were a few moments when the tension was palpable.
Crocodiles are stealthy and strategic hunters, relying on patience, power, and precision to catch their prey. As ambush predators, they spend much of their time lurking just beneath the surface of the water, with only their eyes and nostrils visible.
This allows them to stay hidden while observing potential prey near the water’s edge.
Get our Best Sightings as they Come in
They conserve energy by waiting for the perfect moment, then explode into action. This makes them highly effective predators in rivers, swamps, and wetlands around the world.
Croc launches surprise ambush
The crocodile suddenly struck, displaying a mouthful of impressively large teeth. He lurched forwards from the waters, and his giant jaws snapped with determination and aggression.
He just missed one of the buffalo’s snouts and it was such a close call, that had you been watching from your living room chair, you might have dropped your bucket of popcorn.
Only this was not the movie Jaws, with a shark appearing from the waves out of nowhere. This was real life!
It was a spectacular moment, but also one filled with tension and fear. The entire herd moved from the water’s edge in a moment, and the crocodile’s gigantic form, which had risen into the air as it launched forwards towards the buffalo with snapping jaws, crashed back into the water with a giant splash.
The crocodile was not successful this time, however, more than likely he had been successful on many other occasions. The buffalo got to see another day, and the members of the herd were unharmed.
However, the sighting was a reminder that you can’t ever let your guard down in the bushveld. Animals must continually watch their backs and remain vigilant. A moment of complacency could cost them everything.
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