Why do I want a Skunk? Well; I have always been a skunk lover, mostly because of my mother. Not because my mom stinks lol; but she has loved skunks since the movie Bambi first came out, then Pepé Le Pew only made matters worse.
I don’t care if the scent glands are removed or not, I actually prefer them not to be removed for that is there for their self defense and protection. The smell doesn’t bother me. Ever since my brother and I was playing war in the woods as kids and my brother stepped on a skunk and got sprayed by it, we shared a bedroom and so I had to smell that for over two weeks; then I grew accustom to actually liking the smell. People think I am nuts, but it is what it is. I never liked the smell before, it wasn’t my fault, it just happened; blame my brother. So Scent glands or not, I am open to skunks on the farm. Since they will be wild skunks, we can release them into the woods towards the back of our land; and if they wander towards our dwelling areas, they will be kept safe from harm.
The main reason I would like skunks on the land, is because they eat snakes. Other then that; they will mostly do whatever else skunks do and maybe getting into the cat food and/or maybe playing with the cats. I have to make sure any skunks that are on the land are not in violation of the new world order rules, regulations, standards, codes and/or guidelines; otherwise they will come trespass on the land and KILL the skunks. Having certain skunks as pets use to be legal in Missouri, but it appears that now they are not. The regulations regarding skunks change regularly from state to state, so there is no telling what will be allowed tomorrow, then taken away the next year after. We don’t want the government to kill the skunks, so we have to make sure they are not “pets”. If you need to find a home for a pet skunk, this link will help point you in the right direction. However, our land can and will be a safe haven for wild skunks. We will just have to keep them away from our gardens and hen houses.
What do skunks eat?
Skunks are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal material and changing their diets as the seasons change. They eat insects and larvae, earthworms, grubs, small rodents, lizards, salamanders, frogs, snakes, birds, moles and eggs. They also commonly eat berries, roots, leaves, grasses, fungi and nuts.
In settled areas, skunks also seek garbage left by humans. Less often, skunks may be found acting as scavengers, eating bird and rodent carcasses left by cats or other animals. Pet owners, particularly those of cats, may experience a skunk finding its way into a garage or basement where pet food is kept. Skunks commonly dig holes in lawns in search of grubs and worms.