Pepito Aroma needs an operation

8 weeks ago I foiund two orphaned skunks at the side of the road.. the female was pretty messed up and didnt make it.. now I have Pepito and wish to get him descented as he has integrated nicely into the family and would love to let him live inside.. he is more mannerly than the rest of my crew.. anyone know of a vet here in western Canada who could help.. all I have found is sites telling me how to trap and otherwise harm the wee guy.. he is quite healthy and happy but am concerned when company who does not know Pepito comes to call!! Help!!:ca::wall::pray:

Your fist step should be to find a rescue organization for the skunk as it is Illegal to own pet skunks in BC and I would think even more so for wild born skunks

Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre BCSPCA Wild Life Rehab Centre (http://www.wildarc.com/)

Prince Rupert Wildlife Rehab Shelter (http://www2.citytel.net/wildlife/index.html)

In most states and provinces it is illegal to own skunks
http://www.skunkhaven.net/StatesForm.htm


If that is unsuccessful you need to check with your local Fish & Wildlife Management Office to see if you can obtain a permit for owning a Wild Born Skunk as this one is not domesticated

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/pasb/fw_permreg.html

If your application for a permit is denied, you will be advised in writing of the reasons for the denial and of any appeal rights you may have. Conducting an activity without a required permit, or failing to comply with a permit's conditions, are both offenses under the Wildlife Act. Penalties can be as high as $100,000 in fines and one year in prison.

As for finding a vet I've never heard of any that would de-scent a skunk in BC and this would be fairly risky type of surgery to the animal by a vet who has never done it before.

just so you know, he is now domesticated as I am his mother.. just worried about casual drop by's of dogs and others who have not been introduced.. Am aware of fines and such.. Conservation merely destroys them .. funny word that conservation.. will have to try through various channels to get permit as it is a straightforward surgery.. ferrets also of the weasel family are frequently descented and its the same sac .. have treated and released golden eagles and sparrow hawks when fish and game said to let die... so again that funny word conservation... should take it off their business card.. I know that in the states there are skunk farms .. but was checking other provinces .. aye well.. we have had him since he was 2 weeks eyes were barely opened and bottle fed.. he is happy free and healthy.. dont enclose him whatsoever so wildlife cant fine me for keeping ... he just lives here.. would love to let him in once winter comes though as he does try to follow me in already.. I live in the woods.. so he is free to go but chooses to follow me about..

I think you're going to have trouble finding a vet to descent a skunk somewhere where it's banned to actually own skunks.
There are lots of vets in the U.S. that know hot to do it because there are a lot of places you're allowed to own domesticated skunks, but you'd never be able to get him across the border.

Also, unless you're going to keep him inside permanently I wouldn't descent him since it's part of their defense mechanism against predators.

it looks like some serious training then... no spraying... though he has integrated with our dogs and cats ..with the exception of one slip which left one of our dogs to sleep it off outside for a few days!! am going to try and get permit though.. as he shows no inclination to do skunk things as I have tried to show him.. he's just not into grubs!!We have walked through the woods each day and each day I try.. he just heads for his food bowl.. and have tried haviing that empty and got quite interesting sounds from our wee boy... skunks can swear!! If I had not picked him up from the side of the logging road he would be dead.. no option..and skunks are habitual..also it would have to be many miles into the bush as he thinks people are cool... which they are not..esp with skunks..Alberta F&W gives instruction on how to kill or otherwise get rid of them...

You could try contacting Valhalla Wilderness Society. I think they only try to protect larger wildlife as well as save trees but perhaps they may be able to give you some information on where to go. :shrug:

If you are not going to look into a rehab facility.....

Does he have a natural proper shelter from the elements (sun, rain, snow, wind) outside?

as he shows no inclination to do skunk things as I have tried to show him.. he's just not into grubs!!We have walked through the woods each day and each day I try.. he just heads for his food bowl.. and have tried haviing that empty and got quite interesting sounds from our wee boy

If he wasn't fed grubs right from weaning of course he won't eat them now, it's too easy to just eat whatever is placed in the bowl.

What are you currently feeding him?

There are some cautions on what not to feed a skunk here (http://www.skunkhaven.net/DietNutrition.htm) and a sample diet here (http://www.skunkhaven.net/Food.htm)

..also it would have to be many miles into the bush as he thinks people are cool

If you left him somewhere out in the bush he would starve to death because he doesn't know how to find food or otherwise fend for himself, especially if he is not eating a natural skunks' diet. These are things the parents teach them or an experienced wildlife rehab center would need to teach over a long period of time depending how dependant the animal is on humans.

Number 1 , Growler.. one should not make false assumptions as to experience in rehabilitating animals back to the wild.. this is the only one who has a scent.. I have so far.. sent a golden eagle, after repairing wing and a 3 month recovery, sparrow hawk same but longer recovery.. raccoons which are doing quite well.. he knows how to grub.. and is currently awol.. but will see him soon I imagine.. he has a timberframe greenhouse and 2 beds in the potting shed which is insulated.. though they are not full time hibernators.. I have seen the eagle and he greeted me and my husband once and flew away.. though we drove him 50 kms away.. so he would not come to dine on our pets.. no dropping in for lunch as per se..I live way beyond power and this is genset and satellite driven note.. I have spent 30 years in the woods.. enough of teaching grandmothers to knit.. but thank you very much for passing the information in case I was not aware...;)

Number 1 , theallans... one who has supposedly (because I of course have no first hand knowledge that you actually have) successfully rehabbed & released injured wildlife you should know not to remove their defense mechanism (in this case the scent sac) if the animal is going to be out of the house in contact with other animals in the woods

No where in your posts, except the last one, did you mention that you did indeed have shelter for him outside.

The only mention of normal behaviours or a natural diet was:

as he shows no inclination to do skunk things as I have tried to show him.. he's just not into grubs!!

And then you mention possibly leaving him miles away in the woods

also it would have to be many miles into the bush as he thinks people are cool

That doesn't say that he already knows what to do or how to do it or how to find food.

What am I supposed to think? I don't know you from the person down the street, how would I know your experience or knowledge

You come looking for help, giving little information in your original post, and I'm supposed to assume you know these things already? :shrug:

Number 1 , theallans... one who has supposedly (because I of course have no first hand knowledge that you actually have) successfully rehabbed & released injured wildlife you should know not to remove their defense mechanism (in this case the scent sac) if the animal is going to be out of the house in contact with other animals in the woods

No where in your posts, except the last one, did you mention that you did indeed have shelter for him outside.

The only mention of normal behaviours or a natural diet was:



And then you mention possibly leaving him miles away in the woods



That doesn't say that he already knows what to do or how to do it or how to find food.

What am I supposed to think? I don't know you from the person down the street, how would I know your experience or knowledge

You come looking for help, giving little information in your original post, and I'm supposed to assume you know these things already? :shrug:

Indeed for someone who says they're so savy on animal rehabilitation, the initial idea of having him descented doesn't fill me to full of confidence. Contacting fish and game instead of one of the rehab centres that Growler was kind enough to give you links too would have made more sense for someone who is supposed to be so into wildlife rehab.

If you're planning on keeping him as a domestic pet which is what your original post sounded like, then I would get to work on getting a permit to keep him so he can be vetted properly. He's going to need rabies vaccines to keep him and you safe if he's going to be housed outdoors.

Otherwise, take him to one of the real wildlife rehab centres that Growler was kind enough to give you links to too so they can either keep him for the rest of his life or if they think it's possible, teach him how to fend for himself in the wild.

clm

Well, I think it's wonderful that you saved him and how sweet that you are his mother. It doesn't seem so bad to me if you decided that he was yours and you had him descented. Seems like he could live a pretty nice life that way. And you're planning to have him live inside if he's descented, right? So, I don't see what the harm would be. I hope that you are able to get a permit and/or a vet that will help.

My MIL brought a hurt baby crow into her house years ago to help it heal from a broken leg and it stayed inside for quite a while, months I think. She then started letting it come and go as it pleased and eventually it stopped coming inside, but visited for years. She has since moved, sadly. But she had such a precious relationship with that crow. I'm pretty sure that it saw her as it's mother, too.

Good luck!

I actually knew someone who had a baby-skunk descented,he was a wonderful little guy and lived in the house like any other pet.
This was in Cambridge Ontario and they were friends of a friend,so I really don't know what happened as he grew up,but assume he stayed until the day he died.
I know their regular vet descented him,but you could still smell a little,he was a little darling:lovestruck:

Thanks Chico and Defender!! It was rather selfish of me to want to keep him ... but he seems to have chosen the woods.. I do hope that he drops back to see me.. I keep checking the greenhouse to see if he has touched his plate.. but to no avail.. I am not worried about predators with him.. and did teach him to be afraid of automobiles.. with the sounds that he uses to warn .. a couple of sharp taps with the feet.. and was repeatedly teaching him.. the only predators skunks face is owls and autos and of course humans.. but all neighbors have met Pepito .. so now and skunkless sadly to say... did love the wee man.. :cry::shrug:

theallans,sorry he's gone,but of course a wild animal is always better off in the wild,unless he's wounded or too young to manage on his own.