Would you pull a can off a skunk鈥檚 head?

Michael Jeffery asked himself that question before he decided to side with his heart over his head.

Jeffery, who lives in Blewett near Nelson, was driving to work Saturday when he spotted the skunk stumbling near the road with its head lodged in a can.

He pulled over right away.

鈥淢y heart kind of stopped,鈥� he said Monday. 鈥淥h my god, like what鈥檚 going on? I was really surprised and then I felt deep grief, like compassion for the guy.鈥�

Jeffery decided to help the skunk and got out of his car. As he did, he spotted an eagle swoop down and pick a fish out of the nearby lake. That, Jeffery decided, was a good omen.

But it didn鈥檛 solve how to save the skunk, preferably without getting sprayed.

Jeffery decided to act fast when the skunk waddled nearby. He jumped at the skunk, and managed to pry the can partially off before making his escape.

鈥淚 just started running as fast as I possibly could,鈥� he said. 鈥淎drenaline was high.鈥�

He then turned to see the skunk shake off the can. He popped his tail up and aimed it at Jeffery, but then turned and disappeared into the bushes.

Jeffery returned to his car, stink free, and later shared the moment in a Facebook post where he鈥檚 been applauded for his empathy.

鈥淭here was a little part of me that鈥檚 like, this is stupid,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut compassion is way bigger than logic.鈥�

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| tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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