How to Care for a Skunk

Skunks are small mammals in the family Mephitidae. There are 11 species, but only the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is commonly kept as a pet. This species usually has black and white stripes but can come in a variety of colors. Keeping a skunk as a pet can be rewarding but it is also extremely challenging due to legal restrictions and complex care requirements.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Check with your state's wildlife department. It is illegal to keep skunks as pets in most states and others require special permits. Even if a state allows skunks to be kept as a pets, it may not be issue permits due to specific circumstances such as a rabies outbreak among skunks.

2. Find an experienced veterinarian that will take care of a skunk; many vets do not.

3. Get a complete blood work done. Have your skunk vaccinated every 2 years and wormed as recommended by your vet. Your skunk should get one of the vaccination series that cats and dogs get. All pet skunks in the United States must be de-scented at around 4 weeks. Skunks should be spayed or neutered between 4 and 6 months old.

4. Feed your skunk a wider variety of food than other pets. Opinions vary on specifics, but there is strong consensus on a few points. The diet should consist largely of vegetables, cooked grains with some chicken or turkey for protein and should not be pre-processed. Skunks also need additional taurine and calcium.

5. Housebreak your skunk with standard corner training. Skunks are naturally clean and most can be housebroken with this method. Once the bathroom area is established, however, it can be difficult to get them to change.

Resources

• Learn more about skunks at Skunkhaven.