ANIMALS;
ANIMALS - LEGISLATION;
Connecticut laws/regulations;
April 28, 2003 |
2003-R-0394 | |
SKUNKS AS PETS | ||
| ||
By: Marcelle Pichanick, Research Fellow | ||
You asked if (1) state law allows or ever allowed people to keep skunks as pets and (2) any state allows people to keep skunks as pets.
Connecticut law prohibits people from keeping any wild quadruped without a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permit (CGS § 26-55). DEP does not issue permits that allow people to keep skunks as pets, according to Chris Vann of the DEP.
State regulations prohibit the importation of skunks (Conn. Agencies Reg. § 26-55-2 (m)). Also, state law bans possession of skunks purchased in Connecticut establishments (CGS § 26-40). The law was passed in 1980 because of cases of rabid skunks found in breeding facilities and retail establishments in the 1970s, according to Vann.
With some restrictions, 22 states allow people to keep skunks as pets. Table 1 lists these states and special conditions regarding keeping skunks as pets. The information contained in Table 1 was compiled from two sources: the Aspen Skunk Rabies Research, Inc. , an organization dedicated to obtaining a government-approved rabies vaccine for skunks and the American Domestic Skunk Association, Inc. , (the Ohio Chapter) an organization dedicated to assisting skunks and their owners.
TABLE 1: STATES THAT ALLOW THE POSSESSION OF SKUNKS AS PETS
State |
Status |
Special Conditions |
Alabama |
Legal |
Must be obtained from a licensed breeder within state; Black/white require permits |
Arkansas |
Legal |
Limit of six |
Florida |
Legal |
Permit required |
Georgia |
Legal |
Black/white illegal, all other colors legal |
Idaho |
Legal |
(Cannot import), in-state purchase only, no permit required |
Indiana |
Legal |
Permit required |
Iowa |
Legal |
Permit required |
Kentucky |
Legal |
Legal only in some areas of the state |
Michigan |
Legal |
Permit required, In-state purchase only |
New Jersey |
Legal |
Permit required, In-state purchase only |
New Mexico |
Legal |
Permit required for pen-raised skunk, wild born skunk does not require permit |
New York |
Legal |
No new permits being issued |
Ohio |
Legal |
Permit required |
Oklahoma |
Legal |
Must purchase from Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation, license required |
Oregon |
Legal |
Permit required; cannot buy or sell skunks, (they must be obtained for free) |
Pennsylvania |
Legal |
In-state purchase only |
South Carolina |
Legal |
Cannot buy or sell skunks |
South Dakota |
Legal |
May only possess one |
Texas |
Legal |
Permit and letter of authorization required, presently a moratorium on letters of authorization |
West Virginia |
Legal |
In-state purchase only |
Wisconsin |
Legal |
Permit required, cage requirements |
Wyoming |
Legal |
No special conditions |
Source: Aspen Skunk Rabies Research, Inc. & American Domestic Skunk Association, Inc. , the Ohio Chapter
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