A little seafood is always good for the diet. Skunks enjoy eating a variety of fish, including sardines. Ground nesting birds are fed on as well, as they are an easy catch. Skunks also eat amphibians, including frogs, toads, and newts.
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 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).
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.
Are there any commercial skunk diets available?
Yes, there are commercial skunk diets available, but they have to be specially ordered directly from the manufacturer. 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.
What do you feed a 6 week old skunk?
You can buy Skunk Milk mix from Fox Valley Nutrition 800-679-4666. At 6 to 7 weeks, slowly try starting on veggies cut up fine, cooked chicken, natural dog food, small amounts of yogurt, cottage cheese, Cheerios, and other grains, Skunkie Delight.
How often do baby skunks need to eat?
4x/day 10cc/meal -if cage is relative small for this size and number of skunks, allow them to run about in a confined area. *Depending on teeth development, moistening of kibble can be eliminated. ), and introduce natural foods, nuts, fruits, cooked meat, and vegetables.
What do you feed domesticated skunks?
Fresh, cooked or thawed frozen vegetables and occasional fruits, cooked poultry like chicken, and healthy foods made with grains, such as cereal, should all be fed. Nuts, cooked grains, a few pieces of dog food, and yogurt should also be mixed into the diet.
What should you not feed a skunk?
What NOT to feed a SkunkNO leaf or iceberg lettuce.NO cat food (dry or canned) Cat food is high in fat and protein and should only be used as a last resort if a skunk won't eat anything else.NO sweets.NO chocolate.NO fatty foods.NO fried foods.NO lunch meat (salami, bologna, etc.)NO hot-dogs.More items...
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 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 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.
Will 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.
Do skunks eat peanut butter?
Although skunks are known to eat opportunistically, they are most attracted to oily, meat-based baits like fish and chicken. They have a strong sense of smell, so anything particularly smelly works best - even peanut butter has been proven to lure in skunks.
Do wild skunks eat apples?
Fruits and vegetables Skunks also eat certain fruit and vegetables. They are especially fond of fruits like berries, grapes, apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, frozen fruits, and many others they might find on fruit farms.
Can baby skunks eat bananas?
Other fruits such as bananas, cherries, pears, mulberries and cranberries can also be added to your pet skunk's diet.
Can a skunk be a pet?
Currently, you can legally own a pet skunk in the following states: Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
How do you take care of a wild baby skunk?
0:063:56Watch These Baby Skunks Grow Big And Go Back To The Wild | The DodoYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhen these little babies arrived my most important thing to do is keep them warm and keep themMoreWhen these little babies arrived my most important thing to do is keep them warm and keep them hydrated. I am a mom. And i make sure that the little skunks are nice and cozy.
Do 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.
How big is an 8 week old skunk?
Until they are juveniles at between 10-12 weeks of age, about the size of a small cantaloupe, they usually can't spray on purpose and aren't very good with their aim. Usually, they are quite harmless unless they have a disease.
Why do baby skunks shake?
Shaking And Tremors If you see the animal is shaking or shivering heavily, then this is another symptom of disease, and in skunks this can mean anything from malnutrition and low blood sugar through to more serious bone and nervous system diseases.
What Are Skunks Like in Early Life?
When skunks are first born, they lack the critical senses of sight and hearing. On top of that, they have very little fur, though there is still a discernable stripe along their back. Weighing in at just one ounce, newborn skunks are quite helpless.
When Can They Start Spraying?
Skunks are said to be able to spray when they are just over a week old. Even so, this ability is of little use until juveniles are fully mobile. Further, skunks’ musk glands don’t finish developing until about three months of life. As these critters mature, they get increasingly better at aiming their spray to target predators.
Are They Dangerous?
Though adolescent skunks do have spraying capabilities, they are not generally considered to be dangerous. Even so, you don’t want to test them. Young skunks can have a temper and learn to stamp their feet and prepare to spray at a young age. Once they are one month old, these critters can defend themselves quite effectively.
Do Adolescents Look Different Than Adults?
By the fall, juvenile skunks start to look much like adults. With thick fur and a prominent white stripe on their back, it can be hard to differentiate between the two. The tell-tale sign is simply their size. If you spot a particularly small skunk, it is likely still in its adolescence.
What Should You Do If Skunks Are Living Below Your Home?
Because skunks like to live in dark, well-protected areas, spaces underneath your home may make an ideal den. If you have a crawlspace or deck, for instance, skunks may nestle into one of these areas for a season.
Making Sure The Kits Are Orphaned
As humans, we like to swoop in and save helpless baby animals without giving it much thought. But we encourage you to take a step back from the situation. We need to make sure that these babies are actually orphaned and that the mother isn’t coming back for them. So keep an eye out on the baby.
Checking The Laws
Now that the orphaned skunks are inside and safe, you will need to check your local laws. Currently, it’s only legal to keep skunks in 17 states. And if you have too much contact with the kits, it’s nearly impossible to release them back into the wild. So it might be best to contact your local wildlife agency to care for the skunks.
Preparing A Home For Them
One of the first things you will need to do is figure out where to put your baby skunk. A warm dark place is best for them with old towels for bedding. Some people prefer to use an old cardboard box, but it won’t be long until they outgrow this.
The First 24 Hours
Now that your skunk kits are inside and safe, the most important thing to do is warm them up. Most people want to jump right into feeding and giving animals water. But this could cause more harm than good. The reason for this is that it takes a lot of energy to digest food.
Estimating The Age & How Much To Feed
With your baby skunk rehydrating, it’s time to start guessing how old your baby kit is. To do this, you will need a scale and an excellent observation of the skunk. Here is what to look for when guessing how old your kits are and how much to feed them. You can also use this as a guide to keeping up with your skunk’s growth and development.
How To Feed A Baby Skunk
Now that you know how old your skunk is and what they need to eat, you might be wondering how to feed it. Most people want to jump right in and buy bottles used to nurse kittens or puppies. But you don’t want to do this. Skunks are very aggressive eaters, and if you feed them with a bottle, they will engorge themselves.
The Best Formula
What to feed orphaned baby skunks wouldn’t be complete without talking about the best formula to buy. It’s essential to find a formula that will have everything skunks need. The best formula on the market is Esbilac for puppies.
What do skunks eat in winter?
This includes fruits and crops that are left rotten or not harvested.
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 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 are skunks bad for you?
Although humans consider skunks as a nuisance because of their unpleasant odor, they are beneficial in many ways. This is because skunks prey on small creatures that are harmful to gardening and a healthy lifestyle as a whole. It’s estimated that on average around 70% of a skunk’s diet is made of up harmful insects.
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 skunks hibernate in the winter?
Skunks do not fully hibernate in winter, at times during winter when a skunk wakes from its torpor – usually, when temperatures are 30° Fahrenheit or above. They may choose to leave the comfort of their den at night to forage for food. Where possible, skunks will eat forage for. Insects.
What do skunks eat?
These animals, like many large rodents, have feeding habits and special diet systems. Skunks are omnivores, so they will eat plant and animal material. Since they are slow moving animals, they cannot chase after their food, so they will feed on anything that is available.
Why do skunks have long claws?
Their long claws and strong feet allow them to easily dig for food. Skunks benefits from low fat foods that have low protein contents. Foods that have high counts of these will make the skunk fat and will also result in laziness and lethargy, which can shorten the lifespan of the animal.
Do skunks raid food?
Skunks are also known to raid a food that may have been stored by another rodent like a weasel . Skunks themselves are not food storers. They eat everything they find and do not being food back to their dens. Most skunks will be seen foraging for food on their own. It is rare to see multiple skunks in the same location.
Do skunks hunt at night?
They spend most of their time foraging and they will hunt at night when not sleeping. Most skunks will be highly drawn to grubs, which they can smell through the layers of soil. Skunks are great diggers, and will make holes in the ground to find grubs and other insects.
Do skunks hibernate?
Since skunks do not hibern ate, they have to be able to find food sources throughout the year, which can be difficult during winter months. However, these animals enjoy many types of food that is found in the wild and they will also eat human food if it is offered or can be found.
Can skunks harm property?
Though they can be destructive to gardens and have been known to damage property at times, they are rather harmless if left alone. If skunks do become threatened, they will warn their predators with stomping and noises before they emit a powerful and pungent spray.
Do skunks eat animals?
However, during the spring and summer, they tend to lean more towards animal materials since they are more common and easily avaiobale. In regards to preferred foods, skunks are not overly picky. They will eat the first thing they come upon, making it easy for them to sustain in the wild.
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 rid of skunk smell?
If this is ineffective, then it will raise its tail and spray. There are several traditional methods that are said to work to get rid of the smell produced by skunks, but in truth using tomato juice or citrus juices will rarely be effective.
How old do skunks have to be to spray?
By the age of around three months skunks will have fully developed anal glands and will have the ability to spray, although one feature worth noting is that the older the skunk the better they will usually be at directing their spray.
How long does it take for a skunk to react to spray?
The ability to spray a potential threat is something that starts to develop early on in skunks, and certainly for those who have looked after domesticated baby skunks, the natural reaction to spray is something that is actually developed after only a few weeks.
Why do skunks have white stripes?
Along with this, the white stripe along the back of the animal is a clear indication to potential predators that it is a skunk, and this will often deter animals who will go to look for easier victims. Therefore, it is natural to assume that skunks will develop this ability quite early in their development.
How long do skunks stay with their mom?
They get together only for the purpose of mating. The mother skunk then raises her babies by herself . The kits will stay with her for about eight months, then they’re ready to go off on their own.
What happens if a skunk visits a neighbor's yard?
If one of your skunks visits a neighboring yard, the homeowner might freak out a little, call animal control and the little fellow could end up trapped and then killed. Skunks can harbor rabies and so it’s standard operating procedure to euthanize all captured skunks.
Is it illegal to feed 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.
Do skunks rely on humans?
Your skunk friends are starting to rely on you for food and shelter, and in doing so, they are becoming comfortable around people. That likely will lead them to think all humans are kind and will provide them food when they approach, and unfortunately, that’s not going to happen.