How to Choose A Pet Skunk

Skunks are wonderfully intelligent animals who do not deserve their bad reputation. Their comical antics and friendly nature make them great pets!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. So, you think you would like to have a skunk as a pet! Before you get your heart set on obtaining a new furry friend, check the state wildlife laws in your area. Depending on where you live, it may be illegal to have a pet skunk. If you're caught with a skunk in these areas, officials can legally take your skunk away from you and kill it! If you do live in a state where you can legally own skunks, don't try to take a baby from the woods and make a pet of it! Most states require you to show paperwork proving where you acquired your skunk, and some even require a permit to keep the animal. Anyone who is selling skunks MUST be USDA licensed - this is the law. Make sure you get a copy of the state permit and license from whoever you buy your skunk from!

2. Where can you find a skunk? Your best bet is to find a breeder who specializes in happy healthy skunks. The kits (another name for baby skunks) will more than likely have been well socialized, used to humans, and raised in clean, caring surroundings. You cannot buy a baby skunk any time of the year like you can a dog or a cat. Skunks are what is known as "seasonal" breeders, and kits are usually available only in the summer.
   
   A good breeder will make sure you understand the responsibility that goes along with having a skunk as a pet. They are not raising these animals for money - indeed, they rarely break even on the costs of raising a litter. They breed for the love of the animal and the feeling of satisfaction they have when they are able to match a kit with a new owner.

3. Skunks do not come in just black with a white stripe down the back! They are also seen in mahogany, smoke, gray, albino (white with pink eyes), lavender, apricot, champagne, silver, chocolate, and white on white (white with dark eyes). These colors can be combined in various pattern types, namely classic, single, and multi-striped, marble and swirl, which is any of the above colors "swirled" onto a white base coat, chip, which is white spots on all four legs, and star/falling star, patterns which resemble their names.

4. Taking care of a pet skunk is not too different from taking care of a cat. Skunks can be trained to use a litter box like cats do, but respond better to a naturally based cedar or pine cat litter than the clay types. Your pet skunk can eat chicken, tuna, or dog food as part of it's diet. You should supplement with a wide variety of fresh foods such as meat, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.

5. Skunks can have a charming personality. They are very curious, and will want to investigate every room in your home... sometimes with destructive results. They are not shy about demanding your attention, and thrive on interaction with their owners. Also, they can be little thieves! They like to steal things they find in your home to make their beds more comfortable, so if you start to miss you socks or t-shirts, check your skunk's bed!

Tips & Warnings

• With good care and a healthy diet, skunks can live to be 8 to 12 years old.
• It's a good idea to find a veterinarian who will be willing to treat a skunk before you bring your new pet home.
• Get you skunk used to baths and nail clipping while he is a kit and he will get used to it enough not to put up a struggle.
• You should always buy a skunk that has been descented. Yes, baby skunks can spray, too! Most breeders will make sure this has been done before they will sell a skunk to you.
• Make sure there are no small holes anywhere in and around your home where a small skunk could escape. It can and does happen!
• Due to the many misconceptions about skunks and rabies, it is critical that you be very careful who you let come in contact with your skunk. If he bites someone and they report the bite, your skunk may be taken from you and destroyed so that it can be tested for rabies - even if there is no indication that your skunk is rabid. It's an unfair law, and research is ongoing as to how to best prevent this from happening to someone's beloved pet skunk.
• Discipline your skunk with patience and love when he nibbles on you, as all kits will. You must train him with love not to bite. If done in anger, your skunk may become vicious.