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Burnaby group saves skunk from garbage truck

It's a foul smelling job, but someone has to do it. The Wildlife Rescue Association in Burnaby helped save a skunk trapped in a garbage truck last week.
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The Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C. rescued a skunk from the back of a garbage truck that showed up at the Burnaby centre.

It's a foul smelling job, but someone has to do it.

The Wildlife Rescue Association in Burnaby helped save a skunk trapped in a garbage truck last week. The association, which helps injured and orphaned wildlife, got a call from a garbage disposal company on July 3. A garbage truck was headed for the association's headquarters at Burnaby Lake with a skunk trapped in the waste container.

"The truck was coming towards the end of its rounds and was compacting the trash, when the terrified skunk sprayed," said the association's Yolanda Brooks. "When the crew realized they had a live skunk in the vehicle, they drove it first to the SPCA on Sprott Street before staff directed them to us."

When the truck arrived, wildlife rehabilitator Janelle Stephenson climbed into the garbage container to search for the skunk, Brooks said.

"It was roaming freely amongst the garbage, and she was able to catch it and put it in a kennel within a couple of minutes and hand it over to her colleague, Wallis Moore Reid," Brooks said.

Stephenson noted there were only minor scratches around her eyes and no serious injuries.

"We will be monitoring her to make sure she has no internal injuries, and we will be taking care of her for the next few days at least," Stephenson said. "She's sprayed us a few times since she arrived, and she's very feisty, so hopefully her energy and temperament will ensure a quick recovery."