Brevard Zoo Highlights Trio of Skunks: Oscar, Dexter and DeeDee
By Space Coast Daily // January 11, 2025
Meet Oscar, Dexter and DeeDee
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The zoo is home to some scent-sational residents: a trio of skunks.
Among them is Oscar, the zoo’s original striped skunk, known for his big personality.
Oscar enjoys the attention of his animal care team and often lingers right at their feet, prompting keepers to do the “skunk shuffle” to avoid stepping on him.
Oscar is the easiest skunk to identify due to his unique coloration—he is mostly white with black on his sides. His comfort around people stems from his past as a former pet. He was surrendered to an animal rescue when his previous owner could no longer care for him. While skunks may seem appealing, they are not suitable as pets due to their demanding care needs and general dislike of physical touch from humans.
The zoo emphasizes the importance of thorough research before acquiring any pet.
The skunks are desensitized to new sights, sounds, and smells, making them comfortable when traveling to new locations. However, the animal care team closely monitors their behavior during encounters to ensure their wellbeing. If signs of stress appear, programs are halted or adjustments are made.
“Skunks are often misunderstood,” explained Emma, an Animal Ambassador keeper. “Many people react negatively or avoid them entirely. However, this makes them excellent for educating visitors and fostering appreciation for this Florida-native species.”
When not engaging with the community, the skunks are usually sleeping since they are nocturnal animals. Alongside other nocturnal ambassador animals, they often work evening events. Although they’ve adapted to being active during the day when needed, the skunks are always given the choice to rest. If they opt to sleep, other ambassador animals take their place. Despite this, many skunks are motivated by snacks and rise to the occasion.
During nighttime, the skunks stay busy foraging in their habitat, climbing structures, and constructing burrows. Enrichment activities like finding live bugs, pawing at water dishes, and investigating rotting logs are among their favorite pastimes.
Training is also a key part of their routine. Both Oscar and Dexter practice voluntary kenneling for stress-free transport, and Oscar has even learned proximity walking, following a keeper leash-free. Deedee, another member of the trio, is trained for ultrasounds, which provide valuable insights into her health.
The animal care team loves working with the skunks for many reasons.
“They are incredibly motivated and engaged,” shared Emma. “It’s rewarding to work with an animal often misunderstood, as it helps us create meaningful connections with our guests.”
Visitors might find it challenging to spot the skunks during the day due to their nocturnal nature. However, they can visit the skunks’ Rainforest Revealed habitat on Saturdays at 1 p.m. for an Ambassador Animal training chat. Early morning and late evening are also good times to catch a glimpse. Additionally, the skunks often make appearances during special events, where visitors can request Oscar, Deedee, or Dexter to be part of the festivities.
Dexter and Deedee joined the Animal Ambassador team in 2023 and are relatively new additions. Dexter is the more outgoing of the two, often observing his keepers with curiosity and interacting with his environment.
“Dexter loves to watch us from afar to see what we’re doing,” Emma said. “He’s always curious and eager to engage.”
Deedee, while more reserved, is exceptionally intelligent. She excels in training, including voluntary ultrasounds, but she still prioritizes snuggling in her burrow.
Both Dexter and Deedee were rescues. They were found with two other siblings after their mother had passed away. Too young to care for themselves, they were taken in pairs, with Dexter and Deedee joining the zoo.
Thanks to their upbringing around people, all three skunks have become wonderful Animal Ambassadors, helping to educate visitors and build appreciation for these unique creatures.
