How to Mate a Skunk

Very little is known about the mating habits of skunks. Breeding skunks in captivity in the United States is illegal, with the exception of a very few breeders who are licensed by the government and they are mainly licensed for breeding only for the fur trade. Most states have outlawed the keeping of skunks as pets. For this reason, captive breeding is outlawed, except for those with licenses.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Male Skunk
• Several female skunks
• Den

1. Choose the appropriate breeding season for the species of skunk you wish to breed. This season will vary based on geographical location. As a general rule, breeding usually happens in early spring

2. Choose a location that has room for your female(s) to dig a den for herself and her young. Place the female in the area and give her time to prepare her den before introducing the male

3. Place one male skunk in an area with several females. Male skunks are polygynous. This means that the male takes more than one female mate; his is often referred to as a harem. Multiple females will live in a den with one male.

4. This is where the mating ritual is vague. What is known is that after the female has been impregnated, she will, most often, run off the male. So, the thing to do now is wait. You will know when the female has mated with the male because she will no longer allow him near the den.

5. Be patient and keep an eye on your female. All female skunks have placental pregnancies. Skunks are capable of delayed implantation. This means that they can mate and the egg can be fertilized, but the implantation into the uterus may not happen for up to six months. For this reason it is important to note that although the female skunk may not appear to be impregnated, she may just have a delayed gestation period.

6. The female skunk will normally have between four and seven kits within 60 to 90 days after implantation.

7. You can begin the process again when the kits are one years old. At this age, they will be sexually mature.

Tips & Warnings

• Young skunks are sexually mature at one year of age, so spaying and neutering of pet skunks is a must before this time.
• Removal of the scent gland is important before the skunk reaches two to three weeks of age. This is the age that they discover and learn to make use of their odor.
• In addition to various over the counter chemicals, tomato juice has been rumored to be effective for the removal of odors caused by a skunk spray.
• The male must not be allowed around the kits, as it will often try to kill them.
• Mother skunks, like any mother, are very protective and will spray an intruder if she feels that her kits or herself are threatened.
• No new breeding stock is allowed, by law, to be taken from the wild. This means that all licensed breeders must have their breeding stock registered. This breeding stock is the same as has been used for decades, and years of inbreeding have caused domesticated skunks to have congenital health problems such as epilepsy and undescended testicles.
• Once a den has been created by a female skunk, it is very hard to deter other skunks from taking up residence there in the future. This is a problem, especially when the female has created her den in or near your place of residence. A professional exterminator or wildlife expert can be your best source of defense against future habitations.