In Kentucky, we have two types of skunks; Striped skunk and spotted skunk. Skunks carry rabies and are the second most common rabies vector in the state of Kentucky. In 2018, three skunks were identified positive for rabies. You can grab skunks or just approach slowly with a younger baby with a towel or sheet held in front of you. Drape the towel around the body and carefully place the baby in a cat carrier or sturdy box for transport. Always call your state office before getting a skunk. Laws are constantly changing. Please check your county laws, even if the state is legal, your county may have restrictions. The term -Legal- (in blue text) means that there are restrictions that would prevent you from having certain colors, not allowing the import of skunks from other states, etc. Please check with the designated contact/office for specific information and assistance before receiving a skunk. If you keep grain or bird food outside that attract mice, then attract skunks as well. Store animal foods in metal containers with tight-fitting lids so that neither is attracted.
Skunks have a serious defense mechanism. Spray Skunk! Contrary to popular belief, they do not look for people or other animals to spray them. In fact, skunks give a warning before spraying by quickly stopping their feet, growling and raising their tails. Striped skunks live throughout the state of Kentucky. They are highly adaptable and live in a variety of ecosystems. They prefer open grasslands and often live near the edge of the forest. It is illegal to keep skunks as pets in Kentucky. You can learn more about wildlife as pets on our website. The biggest difference between a wild skunk and a domesticated skunk is the absence of scent glands in pets. When baby skunks are about three weeks old, they are lowered, removing the gland that produces the pungent odor. This simple procedure is easy to perform, but there is some debate about whether the descent is human, as it renders the skunk defenseless.
Nevertheless, pet skunks should never be allowed outdoors and should mainly be kept indoors where they are safe. Canadian residents and skunk owners wishing to move to Canada should contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency – Animal Division, provincial and municipal requirements for the importation and possession of pet skunks. Most of the year, skunks are solitary. But in winter, they often gather in caves to keep warm. In real life, skunks mate from mid-February to mid-March. So drive slowly and pay attention to them on the road. Skunks are polygamous and males can mate with multiple females. But that wasn`t the case with the Muskogee Creek, who admired skunks for their ability to defend themselves.
The skunk appears in Creek stories to defend himself and his families from threats. Sometimes the skunk rightly takes revenge on other animals that have behaved badly. In most cases, it is illegal to possess or transport an exotic animal unless you have given specific permits – usually to zoos or academic institutions – but there is a very specific list of unlicensed animals that do not require a permit to import, transport or possess. Starting in January 2020, online transportation permit applications will go through a screening process to ensure species can be legally introduced into Kentucky. Some approvals are no longer immediately available for printing. To ensure permits are approved in a timely manner, the ministry recommends applying for transport permits online at least 5-7 business days prior to shipment. These carnivorous whiskers are native to North America and are classified as an invasive species in many areas. Mink are aggressive and brave and for this reason do not make very good pets. Most are domesticated because of their shiny fur. There are special rules for owning mink in Kentucky: adults must weigh more than 1.15 kilograms or the fur must be distinguished from wild mink.
Domestically tended mink tend to be much larger than their wild counterparts and breeders have bred a range of color patterns, while wild mink are generally black. Be careful, they have glands like skunks. Ostrich possession is legal in Kentucky according to special definitions. Ostriches are the largest and heaviest bird in the world and have the largest eyes of any land animal, twice the size of their brains.