A pet skunk is a skunk kept by humans for companionship and enjoyment. Although capable of living indoors with humans similarly to dogs or cats, pet skunks are relatively rare, partly due to restrictive laws and the complexity of their care. Pet skunks are mainly kept in the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.
In the United States, pet skunks can be purchased from licensed animal shelters, non-profit skunk educational organizations such as the American Domestic Skunk Association, Inc., or breeders with a permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Baby skunk availability peaks during springtime, immediately following the skunk mating season. Some large fur farms sell surplus skunks to pet stores.
Skunks are probably best known for their ability to spray foul-smelling fluid as a defense against predators. Most wild skunks spray only when injured or attacked, as a defense mechanism. The mercaptan-emitting scent glands (commonly referred to as "the stinker") are usually removed in pet skunks at about four weeks of age.
History
Skunks are native to the Americas and are noted in historical accounts of Christopher Columbus. Skunks were reportedly kept as pets by some Native American nations. Farmers valued domesticated skunks for their ability to kill rodents and other pests. Skunk pelts were also used for coats and frequently passed off as marten fur. Before the 1950s, they were sold under ambiguous names such as "American sable" and "Alaskan sable". The courts finally ruled that the customer must be informed of any purchase that contained skunk parts. The skunk fur market subsequently collapsed. Since then, skunks have been mainly bred as pets.
In the 20th century, most U.S. states outlawed the keeping of wild animals as part of their efforts to stem the spread of rabies. Only about one-third of states continued to allow domestic skunks. In the 1990s, skunk enthusiasts began establishing mailing lists and organized for skunk law reform. In the 2000s, similar initiatives took place in Canada.
Temperament
Skunks are sensitive, intelligent animals, and like all intelligent animals, temperament varies for each animal. Skunks tend to be highly curious. Skunks will open cupboards that are left unlocked. Skunks also tend to be very friendly, loving, entertaining and playful. However, they can also be stubborn and headstrong. Some owners have noticed skunks smelling something that was spilled on the carpet long ago, and attempting to dig to find out what is buried there. Like ferrets, their curiosity can lead them into danger, especially if they crawl inside reclining chairs or other machinery. Due to the complexity of their care, and the negative image of skunks as foul-smelling animals, many people will not keep a skunk as a pet.
Skunk care
Handling skunks
Skunks are a mixture of personalities and much like a cat when first introduced. Much like a dog, they require much handling and maintenance.
Skunk expert Jane Bone writes:
The more you gently handle and fondle your baby skunk, the more docile it will be when it grows up. The more you hold and talk to a baby skunk, the more love will come your way from this skunk as it grows. More homes have been cleaned, meals prepared or football games watched with a baby skunk snuggled inside a T-shirt tucked into a waistband than you could ever imagine. Being this close to you, the baby skunk will learn that it is great to be part of your family as you protect it and calm it down, feeling warm and wonderful all over that you are its new Mom or Dad!To play with a baby pet skunk, it is possible to get on one's hands and knees, and playfully tap the floor with the fingers of one hand, while moving the hand toward the skunk. They quickly get the idea, and will respond with a sort of cat-like rearing up and coming down on their front feet. However, as they make their move, they will be looking you straight in the eyes, while aiming, with tail raised high, their potent "weapon" directly at your eyes simultaneously. (They do the same in the wild when threatened.)
It is better to avoid playing rough with baby skunks, or they may become aggressive as they get older. Bare hands can be used for loving and cuddling the skunk, but a stuffed toy or hand puppet should be used when playing with them due to their sharp teeth and extremely long fangs.
Spanking or hitting a skunk is not recommended, since it will cause them to become vengeful. Discipline should be in the tone and volume of voice. A squirt from a spray bottle may be helpful.
Housebreaking
Most skunks can be housebroken by corner training. After they choose a corner, a litter pan with unscented litter can be placed there. If the skunk misses the litter pan, after cleanup, the area should be saturated with plain white vinegar to remove the scent, so that they will not return to that spot. After the skunk's bathroom has been established, it can be moved about four inches a day to a different location. The skunk may or may not follow. If he doesn't, it may be necessary to give in, let the skunk have that corner, and block the view with a chair or bookcase placed in the corner or some other decorative idea.
For covered cat litter boxes, it will probably be necessary to cut a larger opening for the skunk. With any litter pan, bear in mind that regular cleaning is necessary since skunks will avoid a dirty bathroom.
Some owners have reported that their skunk could not be corner-trained or taught to use a litter box, according to Skunk Haven's Deborah Cipriani.
Letting skunks outside by themselves is risky since, like ferrets, they lack a homing instinct and can easily get lost. Descented skunks lack their most powerful defense against predators such as coyotes and foxes. Their nearsightedness also makes them susceptible to becoming roadkill.
Diet
Skunks need a wider variety of food than most pets. They tend to have a voracious appetite, making obesity a common problem. It is important not to overfeed them. Some types of food, such as chocolate, are known to be harmful to almost all animals.
The topic of what to feed skunks is very controversial, according to Owners of Pet Skunks. Mary Kaye Ashley's book, A Comprehensive Guide to Raising a Pet Skunk, recommends a ratio of 50 percent vegetables, 40 percent Skunkie Delight, and 10 percent other whole foods. Skunkie Delight is a blend of a cooked grain (millet, oats, barley, or brown rice), raw ground turkey, eggs, vegetable oil, and a variety of vitamin and mineral powders. Since it is not available commercially, the owner has to mix it.
Jane Bone's Skunk Stuff describes a diet of vegetables, fruits, dairy, yogurt, vitamins and minerals, fiber, carbohydrates, and eggs. Skunk Haven disagrees with this diet, and recommends their own sample diet. Skunk expert Mary Kaye Ashley, as well as the American Domestic Skunk Association, Inc. also disagree with this diet.
Eugie and Matthew Foster have tried a lacto-ovum vegetarian diet with good results, with rice and beans with yogurt, cottage cheese, the occasional boiled egg, and unsalted peanuts for protein needs, and including nutritional yeast, cold-pressed safflower oil, and various vitamin supplements (including taurine and D-3) in addition to vegetables and fruit.
Lynnda Butler, president of Florida Skunks as Pets, believes a small amount of sugar can be beneficial for skunks and recommends an eighth of a graham cracker or vanilla wafer a day. Others (e.g. Skunk Haven) eschew feeding skunks processed sugar altogether, citing the risk of diabetes. Skunk expert Mary Kaye Ashley, as well as the American Domestic Skunk Association, also strongly disagree with the feeding of any form of processed sugar products. Per Ms. Ashley, natural sugars (such as a small amount of fruit) can be included in the diet several times a week provided that the skunk does not suffer from hypoglycemia or diabetes. The choice of diet is ultimately up to the skunk owner.
Though with the complexity of skunkie delight creating it your own home can be more harmful to the skunk. If you do not get the nutrients just right the skunk could suffer serious health issues. Most veterinarians will recommend a high quality ferret diet and a mixture of vegetables each day, with treats of dairy, nuts, eggs and other high calorie foods. By giving them as treats, weight is easier to control.
Skunks generally do not drink a great deal of water, but clean water should always be available.
Veterinary care
Baby skunks from the pet store generally have not had any medical treatment other than scent gland removal, and will require spaying or neutering, shots, and worming. They will need to be tested for coccidia and other protozoa as well as parasites. Skunks also need to have regular yearly checkups. Dr. Frank Krupka and Skunk Haven have developed a blood panel to show if supplements or changes in diet are needed, and recommend a blood panel as part of a yearly check up.
Veterinary understanding of skunks is rather limited, since scientists have not conducted as much research on skunks as they have on more common pets. Skun
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