RANGE | Found throughout the United States as well as southern Canada and northern Mexico, in both rural and urban environments.

FUN FACTS | Skunks are prime examples of urban wildlife. They can certainly live in a wide variety of habitats but have adapted to survive and thrive among humans in cities and towns where food is more easily available and large predators are minimal. Their first line of defense is to warn predators by loudly stomping on the ground and scooting backwards, their tail lifted high. Known for their very pungent spray, it is their primary line of defense against predators. Their musky spray consists of sulfuric acid and can be sprayed at a distance of several feet. Due to the offensive spray, raptors tend to have greater success in hunting skunks.

These nocturnal omnivores can hunt but mainly scavenge, playing a critical role in helping to maintain balanced ecosystem that is free of the carrion which spread germs and bacteria to healthy animals and humans. They primarily consume lots of insects—such as grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, and worms. When available, they will also feed on small rodents, reptiles, and eggs. In some locations, they also eat crayfish, crabs, or beached fish.

Skunks are a significant carrier of rabies for up to six months, but never have any symptoms. This is yet another reason to never approach a skunk.

Lavender and Poppy are two of four baby skunks stolen from their den, before their eyes were even fully open, to be kept as pets. The person bottle fed the kits with cow’s milk, causing significant stomach upset. This person was allowing her children to feed and carry the baby skunks and later allowed other children in the neighborhood to play with them. When the other parents learned of this, they were furious. Knowing it was illegal made it a terrible lesson for the children but it was also dangerous. Even as babies, scavengers have very sharp teeth and strong jaws, and may carry rabies.

The four baby skunks were eventually surrendered to a local wildlife rehab center, but, after spending several weeks in people’s care, they showed no fear of humans. Since they are social in the wild, we chose to provide a forever home for two of them while the other two stayed at the wildlife center so visitors could learn from this mistake.

SPECIAL CARE NEEDS | At this time, the skunks have no specific care needs, but it is clear that the wrong milk and improper diet while living in that home has definitely impacted them, so their diet has to be tailored to their resulting GI issues.

Lavender and Poppy loved to curl in their fleece blankets in their denbox. These skunks really enjoy small baby and toddler toys that are easy to move or manipulate parts of the toy to move. Baby-activity items where they lay are placed on the ground and items dangle above are especially interesting to them as are puzzle feeders for dogs.