Skunk Rescued from Pennsylvania Skatepark Bowl in Heartwarming Effort
Imperial, PA, August 19, 2025 – A skunk found itself in a slippery predicament at a skatepark in Imperial, Pennsylvania, but a creative rescue effort saved the day, as captured in a viral video. The critter, trapped in a deep skatepark bowl, was freed by a quick-thinking individual using a skateboard attached to a dog leash, ensuring a safe escape without a whiff of trouble.
According to reports from ABC News and KVNU, the incident occurred when the skunk, likely exploring the skatepark overnight, fell into one of the steep bowls, unable to climb out due to the smooth, curved surface. A passerby, spotting the stranded animal, devised an ingenious solution: attaching a dog leash to a skateboard and lowering it into the bowl as a makeshift ramp. The skunk, after some cautious sniffing, climbed aboard and was gently lifted to safety, scampering off into nearby foliage unscathed.
The rescue, which took place at the Imperial Skate Park, known for its large bowl and ramps, has garnered widespread attention online. Posts on X praised the rescuer’s ingenuity, with one user noting, “That’s some serious MacGyver-level thinking to save a skunk without getting sprayed!” The video, shared across platforms, highlights the community’s compassion and quick thinking in aiding the distressed animal.
This isn’t the first time a skunk has found itself stuck in a skatepark. In 2019, Sebastopol, California, police and park workers rescued a skunk from a similar predicament using pallets to build a ramp, as reported by the Sacramento Bee and others. Nor is Pennsylvania a stranger to skunk rescues—last year, the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center in Lancaster freed a mother skunk with a soda can stuck on her head, reuniting her with her babies.
The Imperial Skate Park rescue underscores the challenges wildlife face in urban environments and the creative ways communities respond. No injuries were reported, and crucially, no one was sprayed. As one X user quipped, “Saving a skunk and staying stink-free? That’s a double win.”
Sources: ABC News, KVNU, KXLY 920 News Now, Sacramento Bee, Raven Ridge Wildlife Center