Michigan police officer takes aim to save skunk with head in jar

A skunk who got his head stuck in a salad dressing jar found a cautious savior in a Michigan police officer.

The skunk, head in jar, wandered into a police station parking lot and was spotted by Officer James Kellett.



Kellett wanted to help, but was not interested in any resistance — spray or otherwise during the Thursday encounter. So he grabbed a pellet gun used in hunters' safety courses and shot at the jar from a safe distance.

The shots cracked and shattered the jar, leaving a glass collar around the skunk's neck. With its head free, the skunk ran off.

"I didn't want to use deadly force, and it is a residential area," said Kellett. "The way he was when he took off, he was able to eat, breathe and spray — and do anything else skunks like to do."