With their characteristic black and white striping, skunks are easily identified. Skunks are notorious for producing a foul smell when terrified. While a skunk’s spray is mostly known for its harsh odor, If the spray gets into a person or an animal’s eye, it can be a cause for severe discomfort.
Some people are fond of skunks that they want to keep it as pets. Wild skunks are considered pests and threats against pets such as dogs and cats. However, many people argue that it is indeed possible to keep skunks as pets especially when they are domesticated. To keep them as pets, skunks must be de-scented at an early age; three to four months old for male skunks, and four to six months old for female ones.
The risk of the skunk spraying when frightened is eliminated through de-scenting. Some argue that de-scenting is an inhumane act, and is as bad as de-clawing, de-barking, ear pinning, and tail docking. Compared to wild skunks with a lifespan of only three years, pet skunks can live for as long as 10 years. Not all states, however, allow individuals to keep skunks pets.
Many people debate that skunks are made for the wild and that capturing them to train to live in a residential area would place too much stress on the animal and the pet parent. Regardless of whether a person chooses to keep a skunk as a pet or get rid of it, all actions must be humane and in the best interest of the animal.
Baystate Wildlife removes raccoons, skunks, bats, and squirrels in a gentle manner, as the last thing the catchers would do is to hurt them. For more updates like this, head over to this blog.
Baystate Wildlife 