Skunk is a predatory mammal of the Skunk family (Mephitidae). The word skunk is almost a household name, and although most people have never seen it live, everyone probably heard about its features to exude an incredibly nasty and persistent smell. However, in fairness, it should be noted that the animal resorts to the "chemical attack" only in case of danger, usually warning the abuser in advance about his intentions. In general, by its nature, it is quite a pretty and peace-loving creature.
Where do skunks live?
Skunks are common throughout North, Central and South America, they do not live only in the far north of Canada. The animals inhabit a wide variety of biotypes, but the favorite habitats are rocky slopes and edges near rivers. Skunks also feel quite comfortable in the cities and environs of the cities, because here you can always find food and shelter. During the day, city skunks sit in pipes and basements of houses, and at night they gut trash cans and dumps.
Types and photos of skunks
In their structure, skunks occupy an intermediate position between badgers and polemics. The body is strong, the paws are short with long claws, which the animals use in the production of food as well as in the construction of holes.
In the photo skunks near the hole.
The body length of skunks is on average 35-43 cm, plus a fluffy tail 17-30 cm long.
All animals are painted in black and white colors, while the color can vary not only in different species, but also in individuals belonging to the same species.
According to various estimates, there are 10–13 species of skunks in the world.
Striped skunk
Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the most common member of the family. He lives in southern Canada, in the central and northern parts of the United States, in northern Mexico. Often, the striped skunk settles in the suburbs and cities. Arranges shelters in burrows and basements. The coat is black with divergent white stripes on the back; there is a white spot on the head and a white strip.
Mexican skunk
The Mexican skunk (Mephitis macroura) is the smallest of all skunks. It is found in the southwestern United States, inhabiting rocky canyons and deserts. Wool can be black with a completely white back, black with two thin white stripes on both sides of the back, or a combination of the first and second color options.
Spotted skunks
The genus Spilogale combines 3 types:
- small skunk (S. gracilis). Distributed from central USA to eastern Mexico,
- spotted skunk S.Putorius. He lives in the southeast and central USA to Mexico,
- pygmy skunk (S. pugmea). It is found in the west and southwest of Mexico.
In the photo below, a small skunk (S. Gracilis).
All spotted skunks are good woodcutters. They arrange asylums among stones, in burrows, and also in basements of houses. Wool is softer than other types. The color is black, with 4-6 intermittent white stripes or spots.
Piggy skunks
Genus Conepatus combines 5 species:
- pork skunk C.mesoleucus. It is found in the south of the United States and in Nicaragua,
- Eastern Mexican Skunk C. leuconotus. He lives in Texas and in Mexico,
- half-striped skunk C.semistriatus. It lives in southern Mexico, northern Peru, in Brazil,
- South American skunk C.chinga. He lives in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Paraguay,
- Humboldt skunk C.humboldii. It is found in Chile and Argentina.
Pig-bearing skunks mostly prefer uneven terrain, they arrange shelters in burrows and among stones. The coat is black, with a wide white stripe on the back, the tail is white. The white band on the head is missing. The nose is wide and naked, vaguely resembling a pig nose.
Skunk Smell - Walking Chemical Weapons
The wild, disgusting smell exuded by skunks irritates even the most insensitive to the smells of the human nose. But for the animals themselves - this is a formidable weapon against enemies, the guarantor of their safety.
Skunks are one of the few mammals that protect themselves with chemicals. First, the skunk warns the enemy: takes a threatening posture, lifts its tail, stomps its feet, hisses, rises on its forelimbs and even imitates a false “shot”, i.e. gives the enemy every opportunity to avoid taking a shower of disgusting-smelling liquid. If this does not work and the enemy continues the offensive, the animal rises on its front paws, arches its back by an arc and splashes a poisonous stream through the head, precisely hitting the target from a distance of three meters. Thanks to this maneuver, the skunk never has to turn his back to the attacker. The oily substance causes severe irritation of the eyes of the victim, and with accurate eye contact, even temporary blindness is possible.
The main substance in skunk chemical weapons is butyl mercaptan. It accumulates in two glands located on both sides of the anus. These glands are surrounded by muscles that shoot a secret through two small holes. Smelly fluid contained in the glands, enough for 5-6 shots, this amount accumulates in about two days.
How do skunks live in the wild?
Despite the fact that skunks are able to dig the ground well, they most often choose burrows of strangers.
In the holes, the animals rest, survive the winter, give birth to the young and bring them up. Skunks are active in the dark, they get out of their holes when it starts to get dark.
All members of the family are excellent micelles. The basis of their diet consists of rodents and insects, and a favorite treat - worms and larvae living in the soil. In general, skunks are omnivores. They eat fish, small mammals, bird eggs, fruits, seeds. On occasion, they will not give up the frogs, salamanders, snakes, and even fell and garbage. The animals find prey by sound or smell, since it is impossible to count on sight - it is poorly developed. To survive the winter and continue in the spring in the spring, by autumn the skunk needs to double its mass.
Most of the year, skunks prefer to live alone, and only in the north groups, including up to 20 individuals, winter in common burrows. Usually the group consists of one adult male and several females. The animals go to bed for about 4 months. "Weddings" begin in early spring, and after mating, the animals again move to a single lifestyle.
Skunks are quite prolific: there can be up to ten cubs in one litter. Pregnancy lasts about 2 months. In almost all species, the offspring appears in April-May; before the beginning of August, the young live with their mother, and then go on to independent living. Males do not care about the offspring, and it happens that young are killed.
For most of the year, each female occupies an individual area of 2-4 km2 in size, which significantly overlaps with areas of other females. Plots males reach more than 20 km2 and also overlap with each other.
Skunks are carriers of rabies. Often they arrange winter shelters near the outbuildings, which increases the risk of infection of domestic animals. It is because of the threat of a deadly disease in many US states that the law prohibits keeping skunks at home.
Dogs, foxes, badgers, coyotes and owls usually do not risk attacking skunks for fear of chemical attack. However, it is believed that as a result of shooting and poisoning by poisons from the hands of people, up to 50% of all small animals die every year. A lot of them die under the wheels of cars. A very small proportion of skunks in nature lives up to three years.
The birthplace of the striped skunk and habitat
So, a skunk is an animal that can be easily recognized by white stripes (spots) on black wool. The homeland of this small predator is the territory of North America. Its habitat covers a significant part of the continent. It is also found in Canada. The only exceptions are Hawaii and Alaska. Prefers to climb to a height of about 2 thousand meters above sea level, but some representatives of the species can climb high in the mountains or simply live in meadows and forests.
If you still do not know where the skunk lives and in what places its burrows may be, then you should take a closer look at the nooks and places of the water bodies.
The animal willingly settles near garbage cans, in backyards, it masks its holes in the bushes, on the edges, and also on rocky slopes. Spends the night in dry inconspicuous places and often chooses another's hole dug by other animals of the same size. Where a skunk lives, there are always a lot of midges, grass, and even waste of human food. There must also be access to water.
What does a striped skunk look like
This species is quite easy to distinguish in wide white stripes along the black back. They stretch from the head to the tip of the tail, which is very fluffy. The weight of the striped predator averages no more than 5 kg, but before winter hibernation, a layer of fat accumulates under the skin of the animal. The tail is slightly longer than the body itself - about 40 cm. Often males are slightly larger than females, the paws of the animals are shortish, and the muzzle is elongated. The ears are small, rounded. Fluffy fur is not at all soft, as it may seem at first glance.
The contrasting color of the skunk is designed to scare the enemy and visible from a distance. She signals that her carrier is able to protect itself.
Skunk feeding
If you pay attention, it will not be difficult to know what a skunk eats. These good-natured animals are unpretentious in food, and their menu is quite diverse. They are able to dig up useful roots with the help of their long curved claws and rake leaves. Berry, nuts, grass, fruits, vegetables, seeds and other vegetation are readily absorbed. But the main diet is insects. Also, these striped predators can ruin nests, eating bird eggs, catch small rodents, frogs, and occasionally fish. Animals do not disdain and carrion. They crawl in trash bins and landfills, looking for human waste. They hunt mostly at night and completely rely on their hearing and smell, because they do not have good eyesight.
It is worth noting that skunks even eat coprophages, which are crawling in their feces.
How to multiply
Puberty in skunks begins at the age of 11 months. In the spring, the male, who is able to gather a kind of harem, takes an active part in the mating games. And after the fertilization of his partner, he continues to live his life and no longer takes part in caring for the offspring. Since striped skunks are essentially single animals, males can only live with females in the same hole during the winter period — they combine to survive.
Bear animals for 66 days. As soon as it is possible to find a suitable hole or hole, the animal begins to carpe it with small dry foliage and grass, various garbage, because where the skunk lives, it must be warm and dry. Cubs are born blind, defenseless and feed on mother's milk for up to 6-8 weeks. After three weeks they open their eyes, they can already move a little, and starting from the 5th week of life they make forays from the hole, but with their mother. During the walk, they are actively learning, copying the habits of older relatives. Toddlers stay in the family until the next mating season.
It should be noted that small offspring can stand up for themselves from 4 months of age.
Skunks lifestyle
Skunks live in a sluggish, quiet mode, because of what many people think that these animals are lazy. They are rather slow and rarely run. The speed of their movement does not exceed 10 km / h. The animals swim well and are completely unsuited for rock climbing. They sleep during the day, and at night they go to look for food. In the wild, these predators live for about 6-8 years, and at home even longer.
It is noteworthy that skunks do not run away from their enemies, because they have a special protective tool that allows you to scare at a distance.
How skunks are protected
Nature has given skunks a unique remedy in the form of an unpleasant, persistent smell. Sensing danger, the animal begins to spray the fetid liquid contained in the special anal glands. The first time is considered a warning, and if the enemy does not begin to retreat, the skunk becomes a rack on the front paws, puts back, then takes aim and makes 7-8 accurate shots to the eyes. At the same time, the animal practically does not miss. The range of such a "chemical weapon" - up to 4 meters. The smell of a skunk is vaguely reminiscent of a mixture of garlic with rotten cabbage, gum, and burnt feathers. In addition, the ingress of fluid on the mucous causes a strong burning sensation, since it contains butyl mercaptan, ethyl mercaptan and other natural compounds.
It is worth noting that the “fragrance” is very stable, it does not erode for a long time and remains even after several treatments.
Interesting Skunk Facts
- Skunks never use their weapons in fights with representatives of their own kind.
- Striped skunks (compared to other animals of the same size) are ten times better tolerated by the bites of venomous snakes.
- The only enemy of the skunks is the Virginian owl. He hunts them at night and calmly ignores the fragrant secret of the animal.
- In order to feast on a poisonous frog, bees or caterpillars, skunks roll their paws on the ground. It helps to get rid of prickles on the skin of prey, stings, etc.
- The animals can not resist the sweet honey - having found the hive, they eat not only honey but also the bees with honeycombs.
In fact, skunks are very cute animals and may well become pets if they first remove the anal glands containing the secret with an unpleasant smell.
Some people like these animals so much that they willingly hang skunk photos in the house.
The content of skunks at home
Recently, it has become very popular to keep skunks in living quarters, as they have a sweet temper, are very good-natured and sociable. In addition, the animals are affectionate and loyal. Unlike a dog or a cat, they will never bite their shoes or scratch furniture. Where the skunk lives, it will be very fun and interesting. Like some pets, these animals are able to respond to nicknames and even execute several commands. Get a cage for the skunk, which will become his house, and toys (balls are perfect). Make your pet a nest of dry grass, where he can burrow, and do not be afraid to leave the cage open - animals like to move freely around the house. However, you should not start a skunk, which is already more than two years old, otherwise you will have to spend a lot of time taming it.
Since the birthplace of a skunk is a continent located in the north of the western hemisphere of the planet, then the appropriate diet should be chosen. Do not feed the animal salty, spicy, sweet or fatty foods. Include fruits and vegetables in the menu, and fill the need for protein with fish, chicken and eggs. Also give skunks millet, rice and other grains. With proper care, the animal can live more than 10 years in captivity.
It should be noted that the Indians of the tribe were the first to tame skunks. This representative of the animal world was their symbol of the sun, since its all-pervading scent is comparable to the sun's rays, capable of falling even underground. It is for this reason that people in America who do not have the opportunity to acquire an unusual pet, prefer to keep skunk photos or stuffed animals and figurines on the premises.
Skunk Spray Fluid Composition
Nature endowed skunks with such a feature as odor protection. The main active ingredient of the liquid is ethyl mercaptan, butyl mercaptan and other natural compounds that are present in the secretions of many mammals.
Regardless of where the skunk lives, the result is the same. All members of this species have secretions of special “flavor” and persistence. If the animal's liquid got on to something, then even after lengthy treatments and ventilation, the smell does not go away even after several months.
This protection allows the animal to feel fearless and proud no matter how small it is. Skunk does not run away, because this is not necessary.
Habitat
Where does the skunk dwell? Which mainland? The birthplace of a skunk is North America. They feed on insects, frogs, mice, lizards, ravage bird nests, do not disdain carrion, and, which is not typical of predators, like berries and fruits. Many explore the area and play. Densely populated areas are the places where skunk lives. He likes to visit backyards and trash cans.
The shores of reservoirs is the place where the skunk lives. The mainland is large, but animals do not like to be too far from the watering place. But in the US, there are places where skunk lives everywhere. He does not live in Alaska and Hawaii.
This unusual animal prefers not to rise above 1800 meters above sea level. But some still climb to the mountains, to an altitude of 4,000 meters. Prefer to exist in the forests and meadows, near people. Most of all they like shrubs, rocky slopes and edges near the rivers. Before hibernating, skunks prepare their homes, collecting dry leaves and grass.
For the night choose dry and inconspicuous places. Часто зверек выбирает нору, которую вырыл кто-то другой ранее. Самцы зимуют отдельно, а самки - с детенышами.
Эти зверки уничтожают грызунов, вредных насекомых. Милы и привлекательны. Нередко люди держат дома скунсов с удаленными пахучими железами. Увы, они подвержены бешенству.
In Italy, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and the USA, this animal is often kept at home, therefore, it can be said that Europe is another place where the skunk lives. In some places, these animals are protected by law, they are forbidden to sell. In places where their acquisition is allowed, skunks remove the odorous glands.
Types of skunks
There is not one type of skunks. Their color is the same, but each has distinctive features. Kinds:
1. Striped skunk. Weight up to 5.3 kg.
2. Spotted skunk. Dwarf species, weight up to 1 kg.
3. Pigtail. The largest view. It is known that can reach nine kilograms.
4. Smelly skunk.
Each of them has such an unusual remedy as smell.
Striped Skunk Residences
Skunk is an omnivore. Plain areas with tree plantations, meadows and farmland are the places inhabited by the striped skunk. As a rule, animals select areas that are located no further than three kilometers from the water. Marriage period - from February to March.
Females are sociable, often live in a common hole. Pregnancy lasts up to 77 days. In litter there are from 2 to 10 blind and deaf puppies. After 8 days, may splash liquid for protection.
Little skunks leave their mothers at about the age of a year, after puberty. Males are polygamous, so they can mate with several females. In the care and care of offspring are not involved. In captivity can live up to 10 years, in natural conditions - less.
The main cause of death of skunks - all sorts of diseases, including rabies. Often, animals die on motorways, as they are slow and have poor eyesight. Despite the powerful defense, they are attacked by large predators, and the animals do not always manage to survive.
The place where the striped skunk dwells is Mainland America.
A skunk is unable to catch fish or large prey, therefore it feeds on small rodents, frogs, etc. The animal is able to attack helpless rabbits. The rest of the menu depends on the season. In the warm season he eats fruits, berries, seeds, vegetation.
The predator hunts mainly at night. A skunk has bad eyesight, so he uses hearing and smelling to hunt.
The animal rolls some prey on the ground, but not for nothing, but to eliminate the poisonous skin or to remove the spiky hairs. Regardless of what a skunk catches, he eats it right away. Skunks are not averse to eating honey, piling on the hive, they eat up all the contents, including honeycombs and bees.
For them, the sting of the bee sting does not pose any threat, because the thick coat provides protection against bites. Only a muzzle can suffer.
Home Content
If you contain a skunk at home, you should follow the recommendations on nutrition. Food should be not sharp, unsalted, savory, low-fat. Half of the diet should be vegetables and fruits. For protein supplement, boiled chicken, egg or fish are suitable. Rice, millet and other grains should be constantly in the diet. Skunks consume only natural products. The farm brings many benefits, as they eliminate rodents and dangerous insects.
As already stated, America is the place where the skunk lives. Photos clearly show how animals look like, showing the distinctive features of the species. In Russia, during the Soviet era, they tried to acclimatize the beast, but the attempts were unsuccessful.
Skunks are amazing little wild animals that live in the wild. They are endowed with special protection and attractive appearance, as well as beautiful character.
Breeding
The skunk family is polygamous, the only male starts a “harem” of several females. The mating period in females occurs once a year and lasts for three days, and after fertilization (the end of winter is the beginning of spring), the embryonic diapause often occurs. Pregnancy can last from 60 to 80 days, depending on the time the embryo enters the uterus, then in the middle of summer, offspring of 6-10 cubs appear.
Before giving birth, the female decorates her lair under the ground or among the stones, warming it with dry grass. Kids are born blind and naked, they feed only on milk, they are not able to do without a mother. But after a week, they open their eyes, after four, they know how to become a fighting stance, with a tail raised, and after two months, the youth become independent and combat-ready.
Skunks live in nature for a short time, only 2-3 years. This is due to the diseases to which they are highly susceptible: rabies, plague and tularemia, besides, these animals often fall under the passing cars on motorways. At home, they can live longer - up to 10 years.
Eastern spotted skunk
The spotted (eastern) skunk has a very beautiful coat color: on a black background with a stripe there are snow-white spots, one of which is located on the forehead and a few necessarily on the ears. Its habitat stretched from Mexico to Canada. Plains, high grass meadows, forest and desert areas - this is where the skunks of this species live. They are not afraid of people and often go into the courtyard, visit garbage cans, and can climb to the attic.
Like the striped species, the spotted animals hunt at night, however, unlike the former, they like to climb mountains and climb rocks. They often arrange shelters inside empty trees, less often in burrows. At the slightest threat, the spotted animal adopts the original acrobatic pose, standing vertically on its front paws upward with its tail. If this deterrence does not help, then the “fragrant” shot is used.
Sunda Badger
Smelly badger or teledu lives on the islands of Southeast Asia (Borneo, Java, Sumatra, etc.). Externally, it looks like an ordinary badger, but the face is pig-like with a bare tip of the nose, the tail is short, the hair is 3-4 cm long, black or brown in color. At the top of the head is a white spot decoration.
These animals were called smelly because, at danger, they, like skunks, shoot the foul-smelling liquid from the glands under the tail. They feed on underground parts of the plant, larvae and insects, plants, bird eggs, carrion.
Skunk description and habits
Nature is very careful about the habitats of certain species of animals. These animals for thousands of years of their existence, adapted to local conditions and they are ideal for them. In the Americas, too, there are several species of animals that live only there and nowhere else. One of these is a skunk.
Skunks are very famous for their duality: it looks like a very cute and attractive animal with a fluffy black and white fur coat and a magnificent bushy tail, but if he gets scared, he immediately sprinkles an extremely smelly secret, located in the anal glands under the tail and turns the attacker into stampede. In the wild, the unusual coloring of a mammal is a signal for predators and natural enemies, however, if for someone such a threat is not enough and splashing secrets will seem small, the skunk will use its sharp, strong claws hidden in pads of tightly knit, muscular legs.
The biggest ones are pigtail skunks, their weight reaches 4-5 kg. The smallest - spotty weighing from 200 g to 1 kg. Striped and Mexican skunks are the most common. These are rather large and stocky animals, their length is up to 40 cm. And even though the tail is 20-30 cm. Their weight is from 1.5 to 5 kg.
Skunks have large curved claws on their paws, with which they can easily dig the ground.
They have long, thick and tough fur. On the back from the head to the tail are white stripes. Under the tail of the skunks there are glands, producing liquid with a disgusting smell. This is his weapon. When a skunk is in danger, he turns his back to the enemy, raises his tail and in a sniper way precisely throws out this disgusting-smelling stream of up to 3 meters exactly on target. If this liquid gets into the eyes, the enemy becomes blind for a while, and the smell of this liquid is so persistent that it cannot be removed for several days. That's why skunks have practically no enemies. Although he may become prey to a hungry coyote or cougar.
Where lives - lives
The skunk lives in almost all of North America from Canada to Mexico. They live mainly in the forest, preferring the places they have mastered. Skunks are omnivores, they hunt small rodents, fish, ruin nests, and sometimes do not hesitate to scavenge. But they can eat grass, leaves, any fruits and nuts. Mainly lead nightlife. In nature, skunks do not live long, 2-3 years.
For a comfortable existence, skunks dig up the norms and pits, can settle in the already existing one, having previously shamelessly kicked out the previous owner with one of their own views, if, of course, they coincide with it in strength and size. They climb trees perfectly. In summer and autumn, skunks diligently accumulate large reserves of subcutaneous fat, and in winter they try to spend more time in burrows, becoming more active only with the appearance of the first spring sunshine. The animals are sent to wintering in small groups and families, including a male, a female and several cubs, or one male and several females.
Skunks have very poor eyesight, they cannot see anything beyond three to five meters, but his sense of smell and hearing are well developed. Skunks prefer to get food and hunt at night, go out of their shelters at dusk.
Skunks are unpretentious in food, their daily menu includes various edible roots, berries and herbs, insects, small amphibians, bird eggs, kidneys, nuts, do not squeamish and the remnants of human food. In search of food, skunks are stubborn and even impudent: they tear up the earth, throw away the leaves and rotten pieces of bark, wandering to the outskirts of cities, gutting trash cans and dumps.
These mammals do not have many natural enemies - the skunk is not so easy to eat, thanks to its perfect biological defense. Even the harsh bears are afraid of skunk skunk and prefer to bypass a furry beast, which slightly raises its tail and threatens with a sharp, razor-like teeth. There are cases when skunks became prey to foxes, large cougars and coyotes, but they are very rare. Most often predatory birds, known for their weak sense of smell, hunt skunks.
In the mating season, a male skunk can gather a harem from several females, for the rest of the year skunks, for the most part, are loners and are not very sociable, even with each other. Marriage games begin at the beginning of spring, and in the middle of summer, after a short pregnancy, the female brings offspring: from six to ten cubs. Newborn skunks are born blind and very dependent on the mother, for one and a half months they feed only on milk, and two weeks after birth, their eyes begin to open gradually. Toddlers develop quickly, grow and grow stronger, and already at four months they can be a serious "fragrant" danger of disturbing their peace.
The baby skunks stay with their mother for about two months after the eyes open. They follow her relentlessly, learning to earn their own food and defend themselves against enemies.
Home skunks
Recently, many keep skunks as pets, after having removed their anal glands, secreting an odorous secret. But some owners do not pay attention to it and leaves his "weapon" to the skunk. At home, skunks can live 5-6 years. However, in some states in the United States, skunks as pets are prohibited by law, because it is believed that skunks can be carriers of rabies.
But this does not mean that a skunk can not become a pet! It is a very good-natured and sociable animal, with it, with a very accommodating character. If domestic cats or dogs can sometimes show their character, a dog can chew on shoes, a cat can scratch furniture, then a skunk will never do this. Skunks are very loyal and affectionate. They do not offend other pets and small children. Most often the opposite happens. Therefore, make sure that the animal does not suffer at the time of the game.
Teach the animal to the hands from the first minutes of dating. So you teach the animal to trust you. Skunks never bite their master. They are responsive to the caress and love when they play with them. For games, buy toys at pet stores. All sorts of balls, big mice and sticks will do. Try to choose a medium-sized toy with a minimum of small details so that the skunk does not take a bite or eat anything. Skunk needs a cage where he can feel safe. Do not disturb the animal during sleep and rest. Do not forget to place in the cage a place of dry grass, so that the animal could dig into it. Leave the cage open so that the pet can move freely around the house. You can not be afraid for home plants or furniture - skunks never hurt anything, but can move. You will be surprised how neat animals are.
Do not forget that the skunk is a night animal. If you do not want him to wake you up at night to play, then close the door to the bedroom. The animal itself is able to entertain in the presence of toys. Do not teach the animal to sleep at night. He himself eventually restructured to your daily routine. Skunk needs big claws, not for protection, but for food. They absolutely do not scratch like cats. In order not to bring the pet inconvenience, cut the claws once a week with nail clippers. The procedure is absolutely painless for the animal.
Remember that in the winter in the wild skunks hibernate. At home, this does not happen, but the animal needs much more time to sleep and a smaller amount of food. The skunk diet consists of insects and plant roots, which is quite difficult to provide. Feed your pet boiled chicken fillet, vegetables, dried fruit and seeds. Skunks love cereals and berries very much. Pamper your pet! If you have no time to cook, then the skunk will gladly eat dry dog food. But to make a diet of fast foods alone is not worth it. They lead to the development of urolithiasis.
Skunks do not require any special vaccination. You can do vaccinations for dogs according to the standard plan. Twice a year it is worth giving preparations from helminths, even if the animal is not walking. Walking for a skunk is a big stress. When their glands are removed, they cannot defend themselves from cats and dogs in the way they are used to. If you need to transport an animal, do it in a cage for cats. Domestic animals are very shy.
Do not start a skunk house over two years of age. It can take a lot of time to tame. An adult animal that lived in the wild, wary of a man. You will not be able to build a relationship of trust with him. Juveniles on the contrary, are very easily tamed and trained. They can make a great campaign for home get-togethers and games. Skunks are not at all aggressive and very kind to everyone. It is worth remembering this, inviting guests. The animal can be greatly frightened by loud sounds and unfamiliar faces, then it will fall into a long sleep and apathy.
With care, you will have in the house a cute, kind little animal, pleasing the household.
