Ah, skunks. They stink, they rummage through your garbage, and they dig holes in your lawn. Small wonder we rarely get along with these creatures.
But did you know that skunks can also make interesting pets? Take note that we said “interesting” and not “great” or “amazing.” This is because skunks are nothing like dogs and cats; if you don’t know how to care for them, they can be quite difficult to handle.
Want to know more about skunk ownership? Read on!
The Legality of Owning Pet Skunks
Whether or not you can keep a pet skunk depends on your area’s laws.
In the U.S., only 17 states permit skunk ownership. These states are as follows:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
These states will allow you to keep a skunk as a pet as long as you’re able to produce special permits, documentation, and other requirements.
At present, the U.K. allows civilians to keep pet skunks even without a permit. On the other hand, all Canadian regions – except for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland – completely forbid skunk ownership.
Take note that the acquisition of special permits and other requirements will cost you time, money, and effort. That’s a lot of work to take a skunk home! In addition, you’ll have to adhere to strict state regulations – or be prepared to get into trouble.
Are you interested in taking home a skunk as a pet? If you live in any of the above states or any other place that doesn’t prohibit skunk ownership, reach out to your local government agency. They can supply you with all the information you need to get you started.
8 Factors to Consider Before Getting a Pet Skunk
Keeping a pet skunk can be a complicated affair if you’re uninformed about these animals. For this reason, you should familiarize yourself with skunks and their unique needs and characteristics before you even think about getting yourself one as a pet.
With that in mind, let’s discuss the various things you should know before getting yourself a pet skunk.
1. Get a domesticated skunk, not a wild one
Never, ever capture a skunk from the wild and force it to become your pet. Wild skunks aren’t used to humans; they’re difficult to handle and will only make a mess of your home. They also retain their scent glands – which means they can spray you and your loved ones with their foul-smelling chemicals any time they feel uncomfortable.
If you’re adamant about owning a skunk, get a domesticated one. These creatures are typically de-scented when they’re 3 to 8 weeks old, so you don’t have to worry about one stinking up your property. As we’ve been breeding them in captivity for over 60 years now, they’re also friendly toward humans and even enjoy our company.
There’s currently a debate regarding the ethics of this de-scenting procedure, however. Which brings us to…
2. A domestic skunk on the loose puts itself in great peril
Some argue that de-scenting a skunk is cruel, as it removes the animal’s natural and best defense against predators. If a domestic skunk therefore escapes your home, it has no way to defend itself from anything that would want to have it for lunch.
Also, unlike dogs and cats, domesticated skunks don’t have any homing instincts, so if your exotic pet escapes your home, it’ll have an extremely tough time finding its way back.
Additionally, while wild skunks learn survival skills early in life, domesticated skunks don’t. A lost pet skunk therefore won’t know how to hunt or forage for food, putting it in grave danger of starving to death.
There are other things to worry about, of course, including persecution by humans, diseases such as the rabies virus, and getting run over by motor vehicles. For all these reasons, never allow a skunk to leave your home without supervision.
3. Skunks are omnivores
In the wild, skunks eat whatever they can find. When food is scarce, such as during the colder months, skunks rely on their scavenging abilities to survive. In urban areas, this can mean raiding our garbage for food.
As a pet keeper, however, you have full control of what your domesticated skunk consumes. It’s therefore your responsibility to ensure it eats right.
Skunks are omnivores. Therefore, give your pet protein-rich animal and plant matter such as:
- Almond seeds
- Bone marrow
- Chicken (raw)
- Dairy products (e.g. cheese)
- Eggs (raw or cooked)
- Pumpkin seeds
- Salmon (canned)
- Sardines
- Sunflower seeds
- Sweet potatoes
- Yams
You can purchase these foods from supermarkets.
You should also feed your skunk food that you can buy from pet stores, such as:
- Cockroaches
- Crickets
- Mice
- Worms
Don’t offer your pet any creatures you’ve caught in the wild, as they may be contaminated with diseases or chemicals that can cause it harm.
For more information on the skunk diet, check out our article, “What Do Skunks Eat?”
4. Skunks need lots of space
Domesticated skunks need lots of space to explore and roam. Without this, they can become bored and unhappy, which can lead to poorer physical and mental health, destructive behaviors, and aggression. If you live in a tiny apartment or a small house with no yard, a pet skunk isn’t for you.
Do you have a large room in your house? You can make this your skunk’s den where it can feel safe enough to eat and sleep. Of course, you should also give your skunk opportunities to leave this room and explore the rest of your home. It’ll absolutely adore a big yard or garden.
To prevent your skunk from escaping, make sure your property is appropriately secured – so keep those doors and windows locked. A tall, robust fence is a must, too. And monitor your pet closely whenever it’s out in the yard!
Never keep your skunk in a cage or any other tiny enclosure. Your pet will hate it, and it won’t get the physical and mental exercise it needs to stay healthy and happy. If you have to leave the house, a skunk shouldn’t mind a few hours in something like a large dog kennel too much – just make sure to let it out the moment you get home!
5. Skunks can be messy
As mischievous and curious creatures, pet skunks can be extremely messy.
Expect your pet to dig up the soil in your yard and burrow underground, which is what its wild counterpart would do.
Be prepared to clean up after its poop and pee, as well. Or better yet, potty train your skunk as early as possible (you can even train it to use a litter). However, keep in mind that skunks don’t always obey their humans, as they’ve only been domesticated for a few decades (as opposed to dogs, who’ve benefited from thousands of years of domestication).
Also, skunks can use their claws to open doors and drawers, so unless you “skunk-proof” your home, your pet could end up raiding everything from your fridge to various cupboards. These creatures also tend to steal soft items (such as sweaters, towels, and blankets), which they bring to their den to make their bed more comfortable.
6. Skunks need to be groomed
Domesticated skunks have average grooming requirements similar to a low-maintenance dog’s.
Groom your pet at least once per week, brushing its fur and working out any knots. This will not only help it stay pretty but also get it used to human handling. Skunks shed in the fall and spring, so you’ll have to brush your pet more often during this time.
In addition, brush its teeth once every two weeks, and trim its nails and clean its ears periodically. You should also bathe it around once a month or whenever it gets filthy after frolicking in the yard. As skunks love swimming and enjoy splashing water around, you can wash your pet in a bathtub. You can use dog shampoo or mild, tear-free shampoo for babies.
7. Skunks need lots of affection
Wild skunks may be headstrong and stubborn, but domesticated skunks are sociable and playful creatures that need love and stimulation to thrive.
To give your pet a good life, you’ll therefore have to spend lots of quality time with it. So play with your skunk, stroke its fur, and speak to it in a calm and friendly manner. Make sure you enjoy lots of activities together, too!
8. Skunks need exercise
Like all animals, skunks benefit from exercise.
Thankfully, skunks don’t need as much exercise as animals such as dogs. These creatures only need a moderate amount of physical activity, so exploring your home is usually good enough.
You can also take your skunk on walks or play with it outdoors. Make sure, however, that you closely monitor your pet whenever it’s outside so that it doesn’t get into trouble. As skunks are prone to overheating, you should also let your pet out only between the evening and early morning.
Mental exercise is important, too, so consider providing your skunk with toys. These can enrich its mind and keep it entertained, thereby preventing destructive behaviors and aggression.
Conclusion
You can keep a pet skunk if your area allows it.
If you’re considering getting a pet skunk, make sure it’s a domesticated one. A wild skunk isn’t used to humans and will spray you with awful-smelling chemicals if it feels threatened by you. On the other hand, a domesticated skunk will be friendly toward you, and since it’s been de-scented, it can no longer ruin your day by leaving behind a foul stench.
To ensure the health and happiness of a domesticated skunk, you, as the pet owner, must familiarize yourself with its unique characteristics and needs. So learn about your animal’s diet, give it lots of affection and exercise, ensure it has enough space to explore and roam, and groom it regularly. Don’t forget to skunk-proof your home, either. And never, ever give your exotic pet an opportunity to escape!