 A skunk is on the loose in a village in Devon after he escaped from his owner's farm who is appealing for help. Barney is thought to have got out after his owner Michele Cooper moved from a farm in Hertfordshire to one 200 miles away in Kentisbeare earlier this month. The friendly two-year-old skunk got spooked by the move and is believed to have escaped his enclosure last Sunday. Barney is among farmer Michele's funky collection of animals that range from peacocks, camels and meerkats to farmyard favourites like horses and ducks. She told DevonLive how Barney likely ran about six miles away from the farm and has been spotted by 10 people in the area, giving the Berlin lion (or wild boar, rather) a run for its money. 'He's never escaped before,' Michele said, adding: 'We go out most nights but have just literally missed him every time we get there.' Barney has never bitten or sprayed anyone before, Michele said (Picture: Michele Cooper) 'We have not just moved house, we have also moved farms, so you can imagine that was quite stressful in itself and it has been even more so with Barney disappearing,' she said. Kentisbeare is about four miles east of Cullompton in the Mid Devon district. Michele told the BBC that Barney has never sprayed or bitten anybody and is likely scampering towards other neighbouring farms, drawn by the light. 'Preferably go over to him and pick him up he will stamp his feet,' she told the broadcaster. She asked people to place him inside a cat rage or barn for her to pick up. Any sightings of Barney are asked to be reported to Michele on 07973 210608. With their shock of white fur, skunks are about the size of house cats and are known for the rather unmistakable scent of their spray – rotten eggs. A small number of the nocturnal critters – native to North, Central and South America – are thought to live in Britain. The RSCPA doesn't typically recommend skunks be){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
A skunk is on the loose in a village in Devon after he escaped from his owner’s farm who is appealing for help.
Barney is thought to have got out after his owner Michele Cooper moved from a farm in Hertfordshire to one 200 miles away in Kentisbeare earlier this month.
The friendly two-year-old skunk got spooked by the move and is believed to have escaped his enclosure last Sunday.
Barney is among farmer Michele’s funky collection of animals that range from peacocks, camels and meerkats to farmyard favourites like horses and ducks.