Veterinary understanding of skunks is rather limited, as scientists have not done as much research on skunks as on more common pets. Skunks do not always react to medications in the same way as cats or dogs. As a result, there is considerable disagreement on how best to deal with them. Some veterinarians claim that the medical care of hamsters is appropriate for skunks and treats them as such. However, hamsters are of the order of rodents, while skunks are in the family Mephitidae, more closely related to ferrets (family Mustelidae), [a] which are both in the order Carnivora, which is the same order to which cats and dogs belong. Anyone selling a skunk must have a USDA license, whether it`s an establishment, breeder, dealer, pet store, individual, or broker. Please click this link to check the status of your USDA authorization → acis.aphis.edc.usda.gov/ords/f?p=116:203. Click the button to continue. If the Animal Care Information System (ACIS) search tool appears and you want to find a specific report, enter the authorized or registered name of the facility in the text box at the top of the page and click the button.
Then click the tab in the result pane. Finally, click the button corresponding to the exact report you want to view. In the early 2000s, People for Domestic Skunks collected over 4,000 signatures for their Nationwide Domestic Skunk petition. [57] According to Aspen Skunk Rabies Research, Inc., the effectiveness of petitions is limited by the fact that many important decisions are made by national organizations. [58] The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians` annual rabies compendium sets out procedures to follow if a skunk bites someone. Owners of Pet Skunks is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of captive-bred skunks. OOPS organizes an annual picnic and publishes a quarterly newsletter with informative skunk articles, human interest stories, puzzles, information on skunk laws, and regional and national events. [62] Skunks are native to America and are first mentioned in the historical accounts of Christopher Columbus. Skunks were reportedly kept as pets by some Native American nations. [1] Farmers valued domesticated skunks for their ability to kill rodents and other pests.
Skunk skins were also used for coats and were often passed on as marten skins. Before the 1950s, they were sold under ambiguous names such as “American Sand” and “Alaskan Sand”. [2] The courts have finally ruled that the customer must be informed of any purchase containing skunk pieces. As a result, the stinky fur market collapsed. Since then, skunks have been bred primarily as pets or as show animals. It is illegal for anyone in British Columbia to possess, ship, transport or breed these controlled animals without special permission. Apply for a Controlled Alien Species Possession Permit: Anyone exhibiting a skunk for a fee or without compensation must have a USDA license. Most states require additional permits for issuance, so you should check with your state and local and state health authorities before issuing it. Exotic animals such as tigers, lions, monkeys, tuft monkeys, fennec foxes, caimans, cobras, poison dart frogs and many others are illegal in British Columbia. Many of the animals you have listed as legal are actually illegal, at least in significant parts of the country.
Since this is legal advice that lists legal and illegal things, it is terribly unethical to give false information, let alone maintain it., Please consult a veterinarian before receiving a skunk. Please do your homework BEFORE getting a skunk to make sure it`s the right pet for you. Do not buy as a spontaneous pet. Make sure you want a pet skunk, once you have purchased your skunk, you cannot return and sell it without the proper permits. It`s illegal in most states! It is legal to give your skunk to someone. Skunks are sensitive and intelligent animals,[3] and like all intelligent animals, temperament varies with each individual. In general, however, skunks have playful temperaments. [4] Skunks tend to be very curious and open cabinets that remain unlocked.