- Insects: Baby skunks will typically start out eating insects. This includes things like beetles, crickets, and worms. As they get older, they may also eat spiders and other small insects.
- Fruit: Skunks love fruit! Some of their favorites include grapes, strawberries, and watermelons.
- Vegetables: Skunks also enjoy eating vegetables. Some of their favorites include carrots, celery, and peas.
- Meat: Skunks are also known to eat small animals, such as mice and birds. However, this is not something that they will typically eat unless they are very hungry.
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.
How often should you feed a skunk?
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.
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 will a baby skunk 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.
How often do baby skunks need to eat?
You should feed your baby the four or five feedings until they are 4 months old then slowly decrease feedings to twice a day by a year old.
How do you get a baby skunk to eat?
One needs to feed the baby slowly and carefully with a small syringe. If formula does comes out of their nose, turn them upside down and blot formula off their nose a few times. Wait a few minutes before resuming feeding.
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 baby skunks survive without mom?
Any time that you find baby skunks wandering around alone, with no parent anywhere to be seen, there is reason for concern. Unless the babies are super-tiny, eyes-closed babies, Mom shouldn't be too far away from them. If you can approach baby skunks without Mom running you off pretty quickly, there is a problem.
How do you save a baby skunk?
Put the injured baby skunk in a cardboard box in a dark, quiet place. Put a heat source like a rice sock or warm water bottle in the box with them. Contact a wildlife rehabilitator right away.
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.
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 do you do if you find a baby skunk?
If you wait about three hours and still see no sign of mom, approach the babies and see if she comes running. If she does, slowly step away— she's unlikely to spray you if you leave her alone. If there's still no sign of her, it's time to call a permitted skunk rehabilitator.
Is dog food good for skunks?
The diet of skunks in the wild consists of whole prey, insects, eggs and some fruit and vegetable matter. Skunks in zoos have been fed a variety of diets with success. We recommend a diet of 75% formulated diet (zoo omnivore, insectivore and low-fat high quality dog food) and 25% a variety of vegetables and fruits.
Can you feed a wild skunk?
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 raise a baby skunk?
But while they may look similar to fluffy, little, black and white kittens it doesn't mean that they'll behave like or are simply striped cats. Wild baby skunks are still wild animals and just because someone brings one into their home doesn't automatically make it safe, tame, or legal, even if it is an orphan.
Do skunks eat carrots?
Skunks generally do well when they're fed lean proteins such as fish or chicken, cooked grains and fresh fruits and vegetables. Leafy greens in particular make good veggies for skunks. Good vegetables and fruits to feed skunks include: Carrots.
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 do you do with baby skunks?
Mother skunks almost never abandon their babies, but sometimes something happens to mom and she can't make it back. Make sure the baby is contained and has a heat source, don't give it any food or water, and contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.
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.
What would you write about if you were a skunk?
If I was a skunk, I'd write about all of the foods I'd want to eat, but not much about the foods I'd need to eat. Pet skunks have the same problem of overeating, just as we do. Fortunately for the pet skunk, the owner is in control of the dietary choices; an overweight skunk risks dying an early death just like an overweight person.
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.
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 ...
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?
Before we get into the detail, we should mention that skunks – as omnivores are not overly picky animals. To some extent, they do have scavenger tendencies, so this means that their diet is very adaptable depending on seasons and availability – and is key to their survival.
What do skunks eat in winter?
This includes fruits and crops that are left rotten or not harvested.
How do skunks attack beehives?
How skunks attack the beehives is also quite interesting. Firstly they scratch the beehives with their forefeet and long claws. This will firstly trigger the guard bees to come out and they usually are the first set of bees that get eaten up.
Why do skunks eat spiders?
Some of the prey that skunks choose to eat are often to teach their young ones self-defense mechanisms. Especially when skunks target more treacherous animals like snakes and the treacherous black widow spider.
When do skunks eat plants?
Plants are usually eaten when food is scarce. In Winter, when food is extremely sparse skunks may invade garbage and trash for food. Especially during the summer months, when food is in abundance, skunks will use this time to eat lots of food to sustain both themselves and their young better through the winter months.
How much of a skunk's diet is made up of harmful insects?
It’s estimated that on average around 70% of a skunk’s diet is made of up harmful insects. As such even if skunks may seem and sound like a nuisance, they do still help in getting rid of destructive insects around the home and yard instead. Many yard pests and other yard creatures and insects make up the bulk od a skunk’s diet, like:-.
What are the predators of skunks?
Water snakes. Bees. other small animals. While these may sound common prey for pretty much most of the animals, what interesting about a skunk’s diet is that skunks are one of the major predators of the honeybee. Of course, protecting themselves from bee stings is possible with their thick tuft of fur on their bodies.
Do baby skunks make noise?
This post will cover interesting facts about baby skunks that you might not know .
Do baby skunks’ spray smell different?
One thing that you might not know about baby skunks is that their spray does not smell bad. They have a more pleasant smell than an adult skunk. Baby skunks can’t spray until they reach six months old, but when they do, the spray will smell like musk and ammonia and not like a foul-smelling chemical.
Do baby skunk sound like kittens?
Baby skunks, or kits, sound like kittens when they cry. The sound is high-pitched and squeaky and it’s difficult to not be drawn to them. Skunks are mammals and part of the weasel family. baby skunk have a unique ability to release a defensive odor through their anal glands, which they use as a defense mechanism against predators. baby skunk are omnivorous animals, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They are nocturnal animals that sleep during the day and forage at night. As babies, skunks are very cute creatures with soft fur that can sometimes be white or black. This post will cover interesting facts about baby skunks that you might not know.
Can baby skunks survive on their own?
No, baby skunks cannot survive on their own. Baby skunks are born with their eyes open and can walk within a few days. The baby skunks’ high metabolism means they eat constantly, usually going through about ten pounds of food a week. Baby skunks can start playing in a few days before they even have opened their eyes. Skunks are mammals and part of the weasel family, but they have a unique defense mechanism against predators which is to release an oily liquid from their anal glands.
Do baby skunks spray?
Baby skunks don’t spray until they reach sexual maturity, which is usually between six and eight months.
Do baby skunk have scent glands?
Yes, baby skunks have scent glands. Skunks are mammals and part of the weasel family. baby skunk have a unique ability to release a defensive odor through their anal glands, which they use as a defense mechanism against predators.
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.
