The Care and Keeping of a Pet Skunk

I'd like to tell you a little bit about the care and keeping of pet skunks. Alright, so I'll be honest--it'll be more than just a little bit! But it's all important knowledge, and you might just decide you want a pet skunk! Let's start with how to get one.

First you need to check and see if it's legal in your state to own a pet skunk. Yes, I know it seems weird, but in some states it's illegal to own a pet skunk. In other states it's legal, but you need to get it from a certified skunk farm. So that's your first priority, to check and see if your state is legal. If not, then the rest of this article is rather moot, except for the curiosity value!

Once you have your skunk, you'll need to learn about proper diet (which I won't go into in this article), and a few other things: namely, the handling, disciplining, bathroom habits, and 'skunkproofing' your house.

Skunks are actually quite affectionate. Handling your skunk is important to make it love you. Carrying it around (like tucked in your shirt or in a baby 'sling') is a good way to do this. You want to make the skunk bond with you, to make sure it loves you and knows you. Handling its feet is also important so you can trim its toenails later. Skunk toenails can grow very long, but you do not want to declaw your skunk though, as they use their toenails for balance (among other things).

Swatting your skunk, even with a tool (such as a rolled-up newspaper or a fly swatter) is bad. Skunks are quite near-sighted, but will realize YOU are on the other end of that and you can expect a payback later! Skunks have long memories and hold grudges! Discipline instead should be accomplished with a spray bottle filled with only water. Both handling your skunk and knowing proper discipline techniques are important. And that brings us to how skunks are particular about their bathrooms.

Skunks are particular about their bathrooms, and usually make their own bathroom 'corner'. You can try to move your skunk's bathroom by moving the kitty litter box (which should be on newspapers) four inches every few days. Hopefully the skunk will follow! If it doesn't, concede gracefully and partially block the corner with a couch or bookshelf.

What kind of box should you use? You can use an open kitty litter box with unscented litter or a covered pan with a larger opening. These are all important things to know about, as unhappy skunks are not, shall we say, happy creatures! Another thing that makes skunks unhappy creatures is not being spayed or neutered, as especially females in heat are dangerous. And this brings us to our final point, 'skunkproofing' your house.

Skunkproofing your house is putting you out, certainly, but worth it in the end. Of course you'll need to discipline your skunk if it does something you don't want it to do, but don't make it so hard for it. Skunks are very curious animals, and like to open cupboards and drawers, so make sure chemicals are on high shelves and nothing you care about being destroyed is in the low shelves or drawers. You may have a bedroom in which you keep your skunk in, like during the night. This room may be mostly bare, or with only things you don't mind your skunk playing with, and preferably uncarpeted, unless you don't mind the skunk digging in this carpet. It's good to let it roam freely most of the time, though, as they are fairly active.

Conclusion: A lot of love, care, attention, patience, handling, and a little allowance (besides the training) will pay off well in the end. Now that you know about skunks, you too can have a happy, lovable pet skunk.