How Darien Residents Should Handle Skunks In 'Disarray'

DARIEN, IL — On Saturday, Ward 6 Alderman Eric Gustafson received a call from a resident about a dead skunk in the 2400 block of Marlborough Lane.

When he got there, Gustafson found the skunk was actually alive — still breathing but unable to move.

Gustafson called Darien police and Dan Gombac, the city's municipal services director.

"Within a half hour, they had the skunk removed," the alderman said at Monday's City Council meeting, thanking the police and municipal services for their quick response.

Gustafson asked Gombac about what residents should do when this kind of situation comes up, especially with a struggling skunk near the curb.

Gombac called such situations unique.

"These animals, skunks and raccoons, are nocturnal. With them being out in the day, there is more than likely something wrong with them," Gombac said.

When such an animal is "in disarray," Gombac said, the police will "terminate" it and municipal services will clean up right behind them.

When residents encounter such situations after hours, they should call the police, Gombac said.

Gustafson said he tried calling wildlife centers, but no one answered.

Gombac said wildlife centers won't go out for those types of calls.

"You have the opportunity to take them there," he said. "But raccoons are very difficult to handle along with skunks obviously."