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Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and are sometimes called stink badgers. They are widespread in North America, from South Canada to Mexico. With their thick, artistically black-and-white striped fur skunks are particularly beautiful. Because skunks are not very aggressive they are a wanted housemate.
 Skunks that are kept as pets, are generally stripped directly of their scent glands. This form of 'castration' cannot be compared to the sexual castration of cats and dogs. In the latter case the animals are stripped of their reproductive organs, but not of their weapons - their claws and teeth. A skunk has no other defence than an effectively aimed spraying of foul-smelling fluid coming from its scent gland - so effective that even the largest bear will flee! Even though its teeth and little claws are well developed, it cannot defeat an enemy with them. Removing a skunks scent gland makes the animal completely defenceless and dependent. The mutilation aside, a skunk is not a nice companion. It is crepuscular and only shows itself as the sun sets, which makes it less suitable for participation in family life. Also, as a natural excavator it manifests itself in a domestic environment as a destructive family friend.
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