- For these furry critters, their diet should include a mixture of veggies, carbohydrates, and proteins, among other essential minerals and supplements to keep healthy.
- Skunks should be fed twice a day with all nutrients included in one meal.
- For baby skunks (kits), four months or less should be fed four times a day like puppies. The nutrients should be well balanced in each meal.
- Generally, the diet should include a healthy percentage of protein, as previously discussed. Salmons, red meat, raw chicken, cheese, and dairy products are good protein sources.
- Insects like crickets, worms, and rodents would be an excellent supplement to the meal.
- About forty percent of the diet should be made up of veggies. These veggies may include bell peppers, red cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants and cauliflower. ...
- Skunks also eat cooked foods though they should only be fed such food once a month. Such food could be potatoes, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash.
- The skunk should be given fruits, ranging from bananas and watermelons, apples and pairs, to balance out the diet
- Minerals are essential in any diet. A vet can recommend supplements to include in the diet. These include calcium for the bone and vitamin D.
- If the skunk is not eating enough protein, you can purchase taurine and add it to its meals. This assists in muscle formation.
What do baby skunks eat?
Kits (baby skunks) less than four months old need to eat four times a day (like puppies do). They only need about 3 tablespoons worth of food per meal. The food can be a combination of a third protein, a third carbohydrate, and a third vegetable. More skunk recipes can be found at Skunk Haven and at Owners Of Pet Skunks (OOPS).
What supplements do skunks need?
Skunks are known to have very big appetites and the same applies to the young ones, therefore you have to ensure that they feed don’t overfeed or over feed. The other supplements that you can add to its diet include; calcium, vitamin D and Taurine.
What can I give my skunk for milk replacer?
Esbilac is a puppy milk replacer, which you should be able to purchase at a vet or pet store. Cow's milk, human baby formulas, and most pet products (except Esbilac) are not suitable and will likely cause death. Use a 1cc or 5cc oral syringe (try a vet or pharmacy), warm the formula, and hold the skunk in a towel, firmly, and covering its eyes.
What is the best exotic pet diet for skunks?
One of the most popular is from the Exotic Nutrition Pet Company's Skunk Diet, and they also make skunk nutritional supplements and a canned insect diet for any protein-craving exotic pet. It might be easier for you to make the skunk's meals yourself.
What do I feed an abandoned baby skunk?
Feed the baby skunk esbilac powder, mix only enough for 24hrs and keep it refrigerated. Esbilac is a puppy milk replacer, which you should be able to purchase at a vet or pet store. Cow's milk, human baby formulas, and most pet products (except Esbilac) are not suitable and will likely cause death.
What do wild baby skunks eat?
In the wild, infant skunks will eat a variety of foods and whatever they can catch. Common forage foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, leaves, and grains. They will also hunt for eggs and small mammals like mice, rats, ground squirrels, rabbits, snakes, and chipmunks.
What do you do with wild baby skunks?
When approaching, do not run at them or 'swoop' down on them. The simplest way to 'catch' baby skunks is with a cardboard box or laundry basket. (Make sure the laundry basket has a slats in it that are small enough that the babies can't escape) Go outside to where the babies are, approaching very slowly and quietly.
How do you take care of a baby skunk?
Keep the baby skunk in a dark, quiet place indoors, in an enclosed or covered container. For most species, a cardboard box is perfect. If your home is small, a closet or a bathroom is an excellent spot. A basement, heated garage, or spare bedroom will also work.
Can baby skunks eat cat food?
DO NOT FEED CAT FOOD. Cat food has too much fat and too high protien content for skunks. No formal studies have been done with skunks to identify the correct doses of calcium, taurine, or any other supplements.
Can you make a baby skunk a pet?
It is currently legal to own domesticated skunks in only 17 states: Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Can a baby skunk survive without its mother?
If a skunk has been orphaned, then it has very little chance of surviving in the wild without assistance, but it is important that you take the right steps quickly in order to ensure that the baby skunk has the best chance of survival.
How can you tell if a baby skunk is orphaned?
If you see a baby skunk (or a line of baby skunks, nose-to-tail) running around without a mother in sight, they could be orphaned. Skunks have poor eyesight, so if something scares the mother and they run off, the babies can quickly lose sight of them. Monitor the situation to see if the mother rejoins their young.
How old does a baby skunk have to be to spray?
However, because of their young age, baby skunk sprays will not be very accurate. Skunk babies only learn how to target their threat and spray with great accuracy until they are about 3 or 4 months old. Whether baby skunks can spray or not, they are wildlife and should be left alone unless they are injured.
Can baby skunks drink water?
If you find a baby skunk, observe to see if it is dehydrated or not. A dehydrated kit should be given warm water wit Nutri-cal orally in the right proportion and with the use of a 1cc syringe.
Can you feed wild skunks?
It is illegal to intentionally feed wildlife, so I hope you'll let nature take care things and you can continue to enjoy and cherish the occasional skunk visitor without interfering with their activities. They don't need us to provide them with food. They prefer fruit, plants, insects, mice and reptiles.
Can you feed baby skunks goat milk?
Slowly introduce your skunk to the rest of your home. If you have any other pets, never leave them alone until you are sure your baby will not be killed. Feeding - 5 weeks old - If the teeth are not well established, you can bottle feed your baby a mixture of goat milk diluted with water and dry baby cereal.
What food is poisonous to skunks?
Toxic foods are poisonous to skunks and should be completely avoided.Onions.Chocolate.Asparagus.Cat food.Avocado skin and seeds.Grapes.
What skunks favorite food?
Diet. Skunks prefer meat, but will also eat plants and vegetation. Insects, small animals, birds, eggs, poultry, worms, berries, grubs, and grasshoppers are also common food sources. Skunks are attracted to honey and also foods with a strong odor.
How long do baby skunks stay with their mom?
about eight weeksIf you Find a Baby Skunk The young remain in the den for about eight weeks. The juvenile skunks are weaned by the time they emerge from the den and are about eight inches long. They can make their scent at birth, and by four months of age, can spray with accuracy.
Do skunks eat bird seed?
Skunks also enjoy eating bird seed, which can sometimes be a nuisance when it comes to bird feeders. If you have an issue with skunks living in your garden, removing any bird feeders -- particularly during the night hours -- may help you solve the dilemma.
What do skunks eat?
It would be like raising a child on a diet of only hamburgers, fried chicken, and water. They wouldn't be too healthy for too long. Skunks need a mix of fruits, vegetable matter, carbohydrates, and protein like we do. And don't be taken in by those begging faces; skunks will eat even when they are full.
How much food should a skunk eat?
They only need about 3 tablespoons worth of food per meal.
How to keep a skunk as a pet?
First, make sure you get a skunk from a skunk breeder—do not just pull one out of the wilderness. Second, make sure you get them spayed and neutered and descented, as this will make it much easier for you to keep one as a pet. This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge.
How long do skunks live?
So long as you feed your skunk a healthy diet and keep them active, they can live up to ten years. However, like humans, they are susceptible to becoming obese along with all of the complications associated with having too much body fat. That's why it's important to know what you should and shouldn't feed your skunk.
What to feed a sailor?
And their evening meal can be: 1 ½ to ¾ cup fresh or cooked veggies 2 2 tablespoons of cooked chicken or turkey 3 1 to 2 teaspoons of nuts, cooked grains, or bread 4 1 teaspoon of yogurt
Can skunks eat anything?
Pet skunks will eat just about anything. Since they are still relatively new in the pet world, how to best feed a skunk is still the subject of some debate and probably will be as long as people care about keeping skunks happy and healthy.
Do skunks eat sugar?
Just like us, a skunk instinctively prefers high-calorie food that contains lots of fat and sugar. This is because, in the wild, you never know where your next meal is coming from, so you have to load up on as many calories as you can. But a pet skunk (much like the modern human) has lower energy requirements, and so it needs a varied diet in order ...
Why are baby skunks orphaned?
If you realize that they are all alone during this period, a good explanation for this is that they are orphaned because mothers are usually inseparable from their young ones. If the baby appears to be very weak, sickish and thin, you have to immediately help them out.
What does it mean when a skunk is starving?
A skunk that is noted during the day is usually mistaken to be rabid but if it is a baby, chances are that it is starving and looking for something to eat.
Can you feed baby skunks milk?
All these supplements can be obtained from relevant stores and you also have to ensure that you are guided through each one of them so that you can feed the babies with the required quantities. Never feed baby skunks with milk from cows, baby formulas and other pet products because they are likely to cause death!
Can you feed a baby esbilac?
You can also feed the baby using esbilac powder , you have to ensure that you only mix the necessary quantity, if the baby feeds and leaves behind some of it, you have to ensure that it is well refrigerated and kept away from any germs.
Can a skunk eat esbilac?
Esbilac is the perfect milk replacer and you can also acquire it in any pet or veterinary store. When feeding the baby, it is advisable to always use a syringe, you also have to be careful and ensure that you control the rate at which the baby sucks from the syringe. Skunks are known to have very big appetites and the same applies to ...
What to feed a baby skunk?
By this time, you may start feeding it with fatty fish, eggs, carrots, sea foods, vegetable oil, yoghurt, cottage cheese, vanilla wafer, chopped mushrooms, peas, corn, squash, nuts, cod liver oil and so on.
What happens if a baby skunk is not fed?
If it is not properly fed, a baby skunk may suffer from kidney stone, bone spurs, poor development, bone calcification, and so on. Thus, it is important that these nutrients be given to the baby skunk in the right proportion; it must neither be too much or too small.
Can a baby skunk survive?
In fact, it is unlikely to survive if it does not receive adequate care, and so it is safer to hand a baby skunk find over to professional wildlife rehabilitators, rather than give it inexperienced care, albeit well-meaning.
Can you raise a baby skunk?
Baby skunks do look very cute and cuddly with their soft black and white fur, and some finders are tempted to raise them as pets. But raising and feeding a baby skunk is not so easy and straightforward. In actual fact, that kit is a tiny and fragile animal that needs a lot of care.
What do skunks eat?
Skunks at different elevations and in different habitats during different times of the year will have different diets. They will eat fruits, vegetables, small mammals such as mice, rats, chipmunks, ground squirrels, rabbits, snakes, insects such as snails, slugs, roaches, worms, grubs, spiders, dead animals, eggs, leaves, grains, nuts, trash and pet food left out.
How many babies do skunks have?
The gestation period is approximately 42 to 63 days and they usually have 3-8 babies per litter with an average of 6.
How to squeeze out a baby's mouth?
While holding the baby upright but leaning slightly forward with the oral syringe angled slightly upward and forward to form a 90 degree angle with the baby, you can place the tip of the oral syringe right to the babies lips then gently and slowly squeeze one drop for them to taste. (see below) When babies are 4 weeks of age and older they may prefer to lie prone on their stomachs while grasping the syringe in their paws. They may start to make suckling, licking or lapping motions with their mouths and tongue then you can slowly squeeze out more drops of fluid. Do not squeeze out a regular stream, instead squeeze a tiny bit then allow them to swallow that amount before squeezing more. With pinkies I go drop by drop because they are so easy to aspirate, i.e. to take fluids into the lungs by suction. If they become aspirated, they can die of pneumonia without proper treatment. Proper treatment is the use of antibiotics, generally Clavamox liquid. With older babies I will squeeze fluid slowly for one second, let them swallow that, then squeeze more. If fluids dribble out the mouth or come out the nose, you are going too fast. If fluids come out the nose, stop feeding immediately, hold them upside down for a few seconds, blot their nose with dry tissue paper then let them wait a few minutes before resuming feeding.
How big are skunks?
Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is one of two types of skunks found in California. They are about 25 inches long including their tail and weigh about 4-10 lbs as adults. They are mainly black with two white stripes going down their back with a white stripe on their head though you may find many variations. In the wild they generally live about six years but in captivity can live up to 20 years. The spotted skunk (Spilogale Putorius) has spots of white stripes and is much smaller than the striped skunk at about half the size.
What is the most common injury a skunk has?
The most common illness and/or injury in juvenile and adult skunks is being caught by a dog, owl or other predator. Second is being hit by a car. The most common ailments in baby skunks are being aspirated by the rehabilitator while nursing, diarrhea from overfeeding or constipation from inadequate hydration/stimulation.
When to release skunks in California?
Skunks in California should be released at the end of August of beginning of September when they are approximately five months old. Make sure that there will be a couple of days of good weather so they can find, renovate or build a nest. Release them near a water source such as a creek, river or lake. Make sure there is ample natural food supply and good areas for them to make a den. You can just place the carrier on the ground and open the door. If one refuses to leave the carrier, you can help him out.
Do skunks need to be warmed before giving food?
Always allow a newly arrived skunk to reach a normal body temperature before giving any fluids or food. The skunks organs cannot process food or fluids until they are warmed. If food or fluids are given to a very cold skunk, they will not have the energy to process it and may die.
How to get a baby skunk to pee?
To stimulate a baby skunk hold it over a garbage container. Dip either your finger or a Q-tip in warm water and then light feathery strokes over its genital area will cause the skunk to urinate and/or have a bowel movement. Once the skunk starts to pee don't stop as the skunk will then stop.
What to do if no other skunks are found?
If no others are found it is vital to the skunk's proper socialization and release to be raised with other skunks, a single skunk has little chance of a successful release. Contact vets or local humane societies to try and find a buddy.
What is the bottom of a skunk cage made of?
The cage should also have a bottom made out of welded wire mesh to prevent the skunks from being able to escape, the cage should set flat on the ground and the bottom can be covered with some earth. A nesting box (20” x 15” and 12” high) sits on the floor of the cage.
When are skunks ready to be released?
RELEASE: The skunks will not be ready to be released until they are 16 weeks old (usually late August or early September). It is ideal for the skunks to spend approximately 2 months in their large outdoor cage (4ft x 8ft, made of 1” welded wire mesh).
Do baby skunks urinate?
It is very critical that baby skunks are stimulated to urinate before and after every feed. The skunk may be doing it a bit on its own but this may be overflow and if not stimulated the bladder will rupture. To stimulate a baby skunk hold it over a garbage container.
Can you use a bottle for a skunk?
This is why bottles are not suitable to use. To avoid this from occurring feed in a quiet room, go slowly and watch both the skunk and the syringe, if air bubbles appear in the syringe, stop feeding and expel the air, (see chart on back for feeding schedule).
Is it illegal to keep a baby as a pet?
It is illegal to keep as a pet plus it wouldn't make a good pet, as it's a wild animal. AGING THE SKUNK: In order to properly care for the baby you have found, it is important to know its age. Consult the chart on the back to assess age.
What do skunks eat?
Since they live primarily on insects, snakes, frogs, lizards, rodents, eggs, fruits, vegetation and even carrion , they are very useful creatures to have in our environment.
What to do if you pick up a baby skunk?
Before attempting to capture the skunks, we would recommend wearing gloves and/or calling for assistance if you have any concerns about your situation. If you have picked up a baby skunk who has genuinely lost his/her mother, first you need to place him in a warm, secure, quiet place away from children and pets.
How to keep a baby from getting burned?
Put only half the container with the baby on the heating pad so the baby can crawl off to a cool spot if necessary. A sock filled with dry rice or beans that has been heated for a minute or two in the microwave. Be careful, these can get extremely hot, so be sure to insulate/protect the babies from getting burned.
When do skunk babies start exploring?
If you see a baby out during the daytime, wait to see if the baby either finds his den again or the mother returns. Once skunk babies get to about 6-7 weeks old , they start exploring outside the den, but their mother is generally not far away.
Do skunks move around in the day?
A skunk moving about in the daytime is not necessarily cause for concern. While skunks are primarily active at night, when food is scarce and particularly when a mother skunk has babies to feed, it is sometimes necessary for skunks to search for food during the day as well.
Can you feed a baby skunk?
Do not attempt to feed the baby and never give cow’s milk to a wild animal. Just keep it warm and contact us. Skunks need to be cared for by trained rehabilitators, and it is illegal to have or keep wildlife without the appropriate government permits. Contact Information.
Can you insulate a baby from being burned?
Be careful, these can get extremely hot, so be sure to insulate/protect the babies from getting burned. Note: We do not recommend using a lamp as it is difficult to regulate the temperature and, if the bulb gets too close to the fabric/box, it can start a fire, not to mention burn the baby.
