Can you have a skunk as a pet?

Currently there are only about 17 States that allow domestic skunk ownership. Wyoming is the only State that currently allows you to have a wild skunk as a pet.

Do skunks make good house pets?

viewers may wonder: do skunks really make good pets? In the case of wild skunks the answer is no. But domesticated skunks, which have been bred in captivity for over 60 years, are known to be quite docile and loving.

Do skunks stink as pets?

Did you know that skunks don't always smell? They spray their odor from a scent gland near their tail (I'm putting it mildly here) and otherwise smell no stronger than any other pet. If you can tolerate ferrets, you'll have no problem with skunks.

What states allow skunks as pets?

States like Kentucky, Michigan, Oregon and Pennsylvania allow skunks to be kept as pets as long as you have a permit and vaccinations. In some states, like Florida, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey and Wyoming, it is completely legal to keep the skunk if it was bred in the state.

Are skunks friendly to humans?

Because skunks are generally easy-going, they will not intentionally bother people. In fact, skunks may benefit humans by eating many insects and rodents many regard as pests.

SKUNKS AS PETS - What You Need To Know | EMZOTIC

Will a skunk bite you?

If a person approaches them quickly or ignores the warnings, they may bite and/or spray. Do not attempt to pet or feed a skunk. Skunks that are fed lose their fear of humans and are more likely to approach humans, resulting in bites. Rabies is normally transmitted by the bite of a wild or domestic rabid mammal.

How long do skunks live?

The average lifespan of a skunk in the wild is about 2–3 years, but they can live up to 15 years in captivity.

How much do pet skunks cost?

A skunk can be a costly pet, especially the first year. Skunk kits cost between $150 and $500, and spay or neuter can cost up to $250. Add to that the costs for food, cage(s), litter boxes, bed(s), toys, daily diet supplements, and other costs. Verify that it is legal to own a pet skunk where you live.

Can you potty train a skunk?

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.

Can baby skunks spray you?

If you Find a Baby Skunk

They can make their scent at birth, and by four months of age, can spray with accuracy. Skunk mothers can get scared away from their babies rather easily, but a lone baby will usually be retrieved later.

Do skunks bite dogs?

Dogs that get sprayed by skunks are usually also bitten and this bite can cause the disease to be transmitted through the saliva of the infected skunk.

Do skunks always spray you?

No, skunks do not always spray when they feel threatened. They typically show warning signs first, like raising their tail, stomping their feet, and hissing or charging if their striped appearance isn't warning enough. They only spray if these initial warnings are ineffective.

Does a skunk spray when it dies?

Anyone who's driven past a deceased skunk on the road knows that skunks usually spray when they die. This sometimes happens because of fear when they try to defend themselves against a person (or pet, or vehicle) and sometimes happens reflexively during or after death.

Do skunks bond with their owners?

As social animals, skunks generally enjoy being handled by and playing with their human family members. They can even learn to get along with other friendly pets in the house, such as a ferret or even a gentle cat or dog.

Why do skunks stink so much?

Skunk spray is a liquid produced by the animal's anal glands containing several types of volatile chemical compounds. The primary stinky compounds are thiols and thioacetates, both rich in sulfur—the same element that makes rotten eggs gag-inducing.

What food is poisonous to skunks?

At what age do skunks stink?

When they are about three weeks old, a baby skunk's scent glands have developed enough to produce the familiar smell of skunk. Young skunks like these are capable of spraying, but not with the quantity or the velocity of an adult skunk.

Is skunk poop toxic?

Though it's less common, skunks can also spread roundworm through their feces. However, they are more likely to transmit listeriosis and leptospirosis to humans. Pets may pick up canine hepatitis, canine distemper, and feline Panleukopenia from skunk feces.

What food does a skunk eat?

Food/Diet. A skunk's diet largely depends on availability. In the spring and summer, a skunk's diet mostly consists of grasshoppers, bees, beetles, beetle larvae, and crickets. During the fall and winter, when food is scarce, skunks will scavenge for fruit, nuts, bird seed, and pet food.

How often do pet skunks spray?

And the answer would be no. Skunks can spray up to 6 times in succession before running out of their smelly weapon. But skunks only want to use their precious weapon as a last resort. Once they have used all their liquid, it can take up to 10-14 days to refill the glands.

Are skunks blind?

Skunks have a very keen sense of smell and hearing, but poor eyesight.

Are skunks smart?

Skunks are sensitive, intelligent animals, and like all intelligent animals, temperament varies with each individual. In general, though, skunks have playful temperaments. Skunks tend to be highly curious and will open cupboards that are left unlocked.

What are the benefits of a skunk?

Skunks are beneficial to farmers, gardeners, and landowners because they feed on large numbers of agricultural and garden pests. While young skunks are cute and kitten-like, they are wild animals and it is illegal to keep them as pets.

What happens if you touch a skunk?

Any attempt to touch them could result in bites and the most common mode of rabies virus transmission is through the bite and virus-containing saliva of an infected host. Other diseases that can infect humans from close proximity to skunks are leptospirosis and Baylisascaris columnaris, an intestinal roundworm.

Does skunk smell worse?

"Skunk odor becomes more pungent when the animal becomes wet." The secretion itself is a yellow oil that will cling to most surfaces that contacts; like all oils, it does not mix with water.