Skunk | Facts & Information

Habitat: temperate regions and open areas, places with forests and rocky areas

Skunks (mephitis Mephitis) are extremely intelligent animals, some of them are especially ingenious. Many believe that only a fool can live with a skunk – the truth is that skunks are not for everyone.

They can live up to 20 years and are not dogs or cats, you need to think carefully before making such a long-term commitment. The scientific name is Mephitis Mephitis which means "dangerous gas".

If you decide to take a skunk, You must ask the consent of the Department for wildlife control or domestic animals in the locality where you live – in some areas a permit is required.

Once you have their approval, find a reputable breeder who has been engaged in breeding skunks for at least 5 years. Don't go into the woods to bring one, let the Wild be what the Wild is.

Skunks have been domesticated for more than 200 years, there are enough of them in the Breeders, they all have glands that secrete that characteristic smell removed from the age of 4-5 weeks.

Skunks can be Chestnut, white, yellowish, greenish, black and all intermediate shades. They all have distinctive and charming white stripes.They are widespread in North America, South America, as well as Southeast Asia.

Skunk Feed

Skunks are omnivorous, eating both plants and animals, depending on the season. They feed on insects and larvae, Bream, small rodents, lizards, salamanders, frogs, snakes, moles and eggs.

They also eat berries, roots, leaves, mushrooms and nuts.

Until it grows and you can provide the whole house, find a place to keep the chicken. Skunks are very curious by nature-they explore relentlessly and puppies can get injured or lost very easily.

Put locks on all the doors of the cabinets, place the pots with plants somewhere high and keep your clothes in the cabinets so that the skunk does not make his bed from your socks.

You will find that skunks are easier to learn to use a box to pee in than most animals. They will use a box from a corner of their choice, it may not be the corner you want, but once the problem is settled, fill the box with plain clay or newsprint.

Skunks will not use a smelly or Bulgarian bedding.

Skunk Appearance

The length varies from 30 cm to 70 cm. The weight varies, depending on the species, from 0.5 kg to 4 kg.

Their fur is generally black with white stripes. The limbs are short and muscular. The tail is long and fluffy.

They have specific anal glands, which eliminate a strong odor, which keeps predators away;

And for who knows some chemistry..

The fluid secreted by the anal glands is composed mainly of low molecular weight thiol compounds, in particular (e)-2-butene-1-thiol, 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, and 2-quinolinemethanethiol, as well as their thioesters acetates.

These compounds are detectable at concentrations of only 2 parts per million.

Skunk Behavior

If you're buying a kitten, hold it as long as possible-the longer you hold a skunk, the nicer it will be later.

You can't train a skunk like any other animal. These funny little bunches of fluff and fur will trickle into the carpet, open the refrigerator door, pull the beds off the bed while you sleep, or take all your clothes into the closet or under the bed to sleep on – if you find the wind blowing through the dresser, look under the bed or at your skunk's sleeping place and you'll find your wardrobe missing.

Also, skunks will scrape garbage, dig in the soil of your plants, pull everything off the table – they will make you laugh.

Discipline comes down to a matter of love and patience – if you hit a skunk, he will never forget and forgive.

Skunks are not recommended for families with young children.

Skunk Breeding

Skunks give birth only once a year, in late April or early May. Puppies can move away from the mother only from the first or second week of June.

Skunks are omnivores. Do not give them cat food or ferret food because they are too high in fat and protein for their digestive system.

In their diet, skunks need daily food with low protein, fiber, vegetables, small amounts of fruit, hydrocarbons and a few drops of olive oil. Feed them 4 times a day until they are 2 months old, then once a day.

The diet of an adult skunk should not contain more than 150 calories per day. Never feed your pet raw meat, because of their slow metabolism, skunks cannot digest it properly.

If you want to castrate or sterilize your skunks, you must do it before they are 3-4 months old. They can become very naughty if they are allowed to go into heat.

Skunks need all the injections that dogs and cats need. They can catch both canine and feline rake. Skunks also need to be regularly treated against intestinal worms.

Skunk lives 5-7 years in the wild, and in captivity up to 15-20 years.