Skunks as pets

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Although capable of living indoors with humans similarly to cats or dogs, pet skunks are somewhat of a novelty, and still relatively rare, mostly due to restrictive local and regional laws and the complexity of their diet, habits and care. The highest concentrations of pet skunks (family Mephitidae) are mainly kept in Canada, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United States.

In certain parts of the United States, rescued or surrendered pet skunks can be adopted from licensed animal shelters, non-profit skunk educational organizations (such as the American Domestic Skunk Association), or even licensed breeders who have been certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Baby skunk availability peaks during springtime, immediately following the skunk mating season. Rarely, fur farms will offer surplus animals to local pet stores, though the possession of skunks remains widely prohibited across America, without proper licensing and inspection.

Skunks are probably best-known for their ability to shoot foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands as a defense mechanism against potential predators. Most wild skunks will only resort to spraying as a final option if injured by a predator, cornered or otherwise provoked; to save energy, most skunks attempt to appear larger by flaring their tails as a warning, combined with hissing or growling, before fleeing. The mercaptan-emitting scent glands are usually removed in captive-bred or rescued skunks at about four weeks of age, similar to spaying or neutering—procedures which may also be beneficial, for captive skunks, to prevent unwanted offspring (as well as a more calm disposition). However, since 2006, the practice of scent-gland removal has been banned in the UK.