If you’re hoping to stay scent-free, you might want to keep your distance from Baby Marshmallow — the Cincinnati Zoo’s most adorable little skunk with a big attitude. In a now-viral clip, Marshmallow meets a speedy toy named Mr. Crabby, and let’s just say things don’t go according to plan. The moment Marshmallow lifts his tail to give his signature “back off” warning, the toy doesn’t hesitate…it simply zips right past him.
As the zoo explained in the caption, “Baby Marshmallow meets Mr. Crabby and shows off how he warns predators not to mess with him, but then Mr. Crabby ‘fights’ back! Marshmallow helps educate guests on the importance of native wildlife — not harming them, but also leaving them wild.” Honestly, we’re obsessed with Marshmallow and his mission.
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The comments section had everyone imagining exactly what was going through Marshmallow’s head. “Marshmallow said ‘is friend? Nope!’” wrote Angela West. Alicia chimed in with, “Fear me! Hey wait! I said fear me!” Another viewer added their own take: “Marshmallow: ‘I chase!’ … Mr. Crabby changes direction. Marshmallow: ‘Not today, Satan!’” And of course, Linda C. said what we were all thinking: “Cuteness overload! That’s hilarious.”
Marshmallow isn’t just cute — he’s also one of the zoo’s ambassador skunks, part of a program dedicated to conservation and educating visitors about native wildlife. Born in July to a mother already involved in the Ambassador Program, Marshmallow had a rough start. Complications during birth meant his mom couldn’t fully care for him, so the animal care team stepped in and hand-raised him.
That early care helped Marshmallow grow up comfortable around both people and new experiences. Sarah Paese, Head Keeper of the Animal Ambassador Team, told A-Z Animals, “We love seeing the smiles on all the faces of every person who meets him. Plus, he gets to experience novel stimuli, which sets him up for life as an ambassador skunk.”
Skunks can live up to 15 years in human care, so here’s hoping we get many more years of Marshmallow encounters — tail lifts, toy battles, and all.