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Why do skunks usually not make good pets even when their scent glands are removed?
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skunk
Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis).
While striped skunks can be domesticated and have their scent glands removed, they generally do not make good pets.1
Beyond the issue of their scent, it is important to recognize that skunks are wild animals that can serve as major carriers of rabies in parts of North America. Keeping wild animals as pets often fails to meet their complex behavioral and environmental needs, which can lead to poor outcomes for both the animal and the owner. Ethical stewardship of wildlife involves respecting their natural behaviors and habitats rather than attempting to integrate them into domestic settings.12