Is it legal to own a skunk? A state-by-state guide
Rules read from each state's law on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.
The pet skunk is the striped skunk, an omnivore native across most of the U.S., southern Canada and northern Mexico. Adults run roughly 18 to 32 inches long and weigh anywhere from about 1.5 to 14 pounds, depending on season and animal. Wild skunks are nocturnal and solitary. Pet skunks are bred in captivity and often have their scent glands removed as kits, which is why people picture a cuddly, odor-free pet and ask whether they can have one. It's a far more demanding animal than it looks.
Banned 36Permit needed 8Depends 5Not verified yet 2
State by state
Tap a state name for every animal we cover there. The source link on each row goes to the rule itself.
| State | Status | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Depends | Skunks brought from outside Alabama are banned. An in-state striped skunk is a designated furbearer, but the text read does not clearly say whether keeping one as a pet is allowed. Ask the state wildlife agency.Illegal if from outside Alabama; in-state animals unclear | Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.26(1); r. 220-2-.30 |
| Alaska | Banned | Skunks are not on Alaska's clean list, and the state issues no permit to keep game animals as pets. Private pet ownership is barred.Only clean list species may be kept; no permit is issued for pets | 5 AAC 92.029(a), (c) |
| Arizona | Banned | Skunks are barred under the all-Carnivora restriction, even if captive-bred or descented. No special license type is open to ordinary pet owners. | Ariz. Admin. Code R12-4-406(F)(3) |
| Arkansas | Banned | Skunks are on the prohibited list, so the Commission issues no permits to breed, sell or import them. The native-wildlife pet exception does not name skunks. | AGFC Code Addendum R1.03 (Prohibited Captive... |
| California | Banned | Skunks are named in the restricted carnivore order and are not exempt, so they fall under the catch-all for other families. The only permits are for specified purposes such as exhibiting, breeding or research, so there is no pet permit. | 14 CCR 671(c)(2)(K)6 |
| Colorado | Banned | Striped skunks are on Colorado's prohibited species list. Only animals owned with proof of possession before September 1, 1990 may be kept for life, and they cannot be sold or moved within the state.Grandfathered only (possessed before 1 Sept 1990) | 2 CCR 406-0 #008(B)(8) |
| Connecticut | Banned | Skunks are Mephitidae, which is Category Two. Private individuals may not import or possess them, even if captive-bred.Category Two Wild Animal; no pet-owner route | Regs. Conn. State Agencies 26-55-6(a)(3)(B),... |
| Delaware | Banned | Delaware bars possessing, importing or selling live skunks, which are named rabies vector species. They are native wildlife, which the agency says cannot be kept as pets. | 7 DE Admin. Code 3900 sec. 15.1.3 |
| District of Columbia | Banned | DC bans possessing or giving as a household pet any living animal that is not on a short exception list, including captive-bred animals. This species is not on the list. | D.C. Code 8-1808(j)(1) |
| Florida | Permit needed | A skunk taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred skunk is Class III and needs a no-cost personal-use permit from the FWC.Captive-bred only; wild-caught skunks barred from personal use; Class III permit | Fla. Admin. Code 68A-6.003(13), (8); 68A-6.00... |
| Georgia | Banned | Skunks are native wildlife, and the state says licences are not issued to hold native wildlife as pets. Skunk is named on its list of species that may not be kept as pets.No pet licence exists | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-8-.04/.05; O.C.G.A... |
| Hawaii | Banned | All skunks are on Hawaii's research and exhibition list only, so private individuals cannot keep them as pets.Listed only on Part A (research and exhibition); not available for private pets | HAR 4-71-6.5(b)(2), Restricted Animal List Pa... |
| Idaho | Banned | Idaho bars possession, sale, trade and import of any skunk. Exceptions are limited to fur farms (domestic fur-bearing animals) and permitted public parks, zoos, museums and educational institutions. | Idaho Code 25-236(1) |
| Illinois | Banned | The state will not issue breeder permits to hold or breed striped skunks acquired after July 1, 1975. A new pet skunk therefore cannot be kept legally, and the wildlife code protects the species.Only skunks acquired before July 1, 1975 were eligible | 520 ILCS 5/3.25; 520 ILCS 5/2.2 |
| Indiana | Permit needed | A striped skunk needs an Indiana Class II wild animal possession permit within five days of taking possession. The animal must be legally acquired and the enclosure inspected.Class II permit; proof of legal acquisition; inspection | 312 IAC 9-11-7 |
| Iowa | Depends | Skunks are fur-bearing animals. Iowa lets a person keep no more than two as pets without a game breeder licence, bars adding to the stock, and requires a licensed breeder or legal out-of-state source.Maximum two; no increase, killing or sale; source must be a licensed game breeder or legal source outside Iowa; no wild-caught Iowa animals | Iowa Code 481A.1(20), 483A.23 |
| Kansas | Not verified yet | We could not confirm Kansas's rule for this animal yet. Ask Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks before you buy. | |
| Kentucky | Banned | Kentucky bars possessing striped and spotted skunks as rabies vector species. Only zoos and approved institutions are exempt, plus people who held one legally before April 4, 2023.Grandfathered holders before 2023-04-04 only | 301 KAR 2:081 Section 6 |
| Louisiana | Banned | Louisiana's wildlife agency says possessing North American native wildlife as a pet is illegal, with no permit available. Skunks are named in the state's nongame quadruped definition. | LDWF statement; LAC 76:V.701 (definition of n... |
| Maine | Banned | Skunks are not on Maine's Unrestricted list or any permit category, and Maine bars possessing any species that has not been categorized. | 09-137 CMR ch. 7, sec. 7.06(4); 12 MRSA 12152... |
| Maryland | Banned | Maryland bans possessing, selling or importing a live skunk. Exemptions are narrow, such as DNR licence holders, and animals held before May 31, 2006 were grandfathered. | Md. Code, Criminal Law 10-621(b)(1)(i) |
| Massachusetts | Banned | The skunk is not on the state exempt or domestic lists, so a state licence is needed, and licence applications to keep animals as pets are denied. Ordinary owners cannot keep it. | 321 CMR 9.01(1); 9.02(2)(c); 2.12(9)(a); M.G.... |
| Michigan | Permit needed | Michigan lets a private person hold a skunk only with a DNR Permit to Hold Game in Captivity. Animals must be captive-bred, and importing skunks from other states is illegal.Captive-bred only; DNR Permit to Hold Game in Captivity (form PR1350); pen at least 8 ft by 4 ft by 4 ft with a denning box for a single animal; no wild-caught animals; import of skunks banned | MCL 324.40103(1), 324.40106; Captive Game Ord... |
| Minnesota | Banned | Minnesota law makes it unlawful to acquire, buy, sell or give away a live skunk, with exceptions only for zoos, circuses and research institutions. Possession itself is not named, but new pet skunks cannot lawfully be obtained.Acquisition, sale and import banned; possession alone not addressed | Minn. Stat. 145.365 subd. 1, 2 |
| Mississippi | Banned | Mississippi classes skunks as nuisance animals and bans keeping them alive. The only exceptions are coyote, fox and wild hogs in specific enclosures, so skunks cannot be kept as pets. | 40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Rule 7.1(A), (F) |
| Missouri | Banned | Skunks are not on the approved list for Class I breeder permits and are excluded from the hobby permit, so private pet ownership has no permit route in Missouri. | 3 CSR 10-9.420; 3 CSR 10-9.230; 3 CSR 10-9.10... |
| Montana | Banned | Montana bars private possession of skunks under its rabies control law. Exceptions are limited to animals held before 1982, fur-bearing enterprises, zoos and research institutions. | MCA 50-23-101(4), 50-23-102 |
| Nebraska | Banned | Nebraska bars keeping skunks in captivity. The only exception is an animal legally held on March 1, 1986, which may be kept for life but not sold or traded without written permission.grandfathered only for animals held March 1, 1986 | Neb. Rev. Stat. 37-477(2) |
| Nevada | Banned | Skunks are on Nevada's prohibited species list, so private possession is banned. Licenses for listed species go only to zoos, research bodies and similar institutions.Permits only for zoos, research institutions, aquaculture and educational nonprofits | NAC 503.110(1)(d)(12), (3) |
| New Hampshire | Banned | New Hampshire lists the striped skunk as a controlled species, but only exhibitors can hold a permit for it. Private pet owners cannot legally keep one.Permit available only to exhibitors (permittee category 5) | N.H. Admin. Code Fis 804.05, Table 800.2; Fis... |
| New Jersey | Permit needed | The striped skunk is a game animal in New Jersey, and possession needs a state captive game permit. The Individual Hobby permit covers pets, and the animal may not come from wild stock.Captive game Individual Hobby permit; animal must not be taken from the wild | N.J.A.C. 7:25-10.5(a); 7:25-10.6(a); 7:25-10.... |
| New Mexico | Banned | The skunk is in group IV of the Director's Species Importation List. Group IV is closed to the general public, and possessing a group IV animal needs a department permit that pet owners cannot get.Group IV; permits only for science, zoos, qualified experts | Director's Species Importation List, group IV... |
| New York | Banned | Skunks are on the dangerous animal list, including captive-bred ones. Licences are not available for pets. | 6 NYCRR 180.1(b)(6), (c) |
| North Carolina | Banned | The striped skunk is a native North Carolina wild mammal. The state captivity licence is for education, exhibition or science only and is not issued for pets, so private pet ownership is barred. | N.C.G.S. 113-272.5(a); NCWRC Wildlife Captivi... |
| North Dakota | Banned | North Dakota law bars keeping a skunk in captivity. Only a USDA-licensed zoo is excepted, and the State Veterinarian can confiscate animals kept in violation. | N.D. Cent. Code 36-01-08.4; N.D. Admin. Code... |
| Ohio | Permit needed | This native fur-bearer needs a Division of Wildlife noncommercial propagating license ($25). Only captive-bred animals from a licensed source qualify, and wild-caught animals never do.Noncommercial propagating license; captive-bred only | ORC 1533.71(A)(2); ORC 1531.01(W) |
| Oklahoma | Depends | Oklahoma lets people keep native wildlife as pets only if legally obtained from a source other than the wild. Breeding needs a licence. Live spotted skunks are illegal to possess unless taken legally outside Oklahoma.Legally obtained, not from the wild; spotted skunk banned unless taken legally outside Oklahoma | 29 O.S. 7-502(B)(4); OAC 800:25-7-60(3)(A) |
| Oregon | Permit needed | A skunk needs an ODFW Wildlife Holding Permit and an approved enclosure. It must come from an out-of-state USDA licensed breeder, cannot be bred, and Oregon bars offering skunks for sale as household pets.Wildlife Holding Permit; approved enclosure; microchip or tattoo; sterilization if mixed sexes; no breeding | OAR 635-044-0460; ORS 498.029 |
| Pennsylvania | Banned | Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing skunks. No pet permit route was found. | 58 Pa. Code 137.1(a)(6) |
| Rhode Island | Banned | The striped skunk is a native animal and a Carnivora with no USDA licensed rabies vaccine. It is listed as prohibited as a pet, and DEM may not permit private persons. | 250-RICR-40-05-3 3.17(A)(6)(c)(40), 3.7(A), 3... |
| South Carolina | Not verified yet | We could not confirm South Carolina's rule for this animal yet. Ask South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before you buy. | Agency page |
| South Dakota | Depends | Game, Fish and Parks lets a household keep one pet skunk. Buying or selling a live skunk is banned. A descented skunk is the only altered animal allowed.One per household; no purchase or sale; descenting allowed | ARSD 41:08:05:01, 41:08:05:03, 41:08:05:05 |
| Tennessee | Banned | It is unlawful to import, possess, buy, sell or transfer any live skunk, with exceptions only for zoological parks, research institutions and licensed rehabilitators. | Tenn. Code 70-4-208(a) |
| Texas | Banned | Texas bars possessing a live skunk without a fur-bearing animal propagation licence, and TPWD says it will not issue that licence for skunks because of rabies rules. The licence is not a pet permit.No pet route: propagation licence not issued for rabies-vector species | Tex. Parks & Wildlife Code 71.005(c); 31 TAC... |
| Utah | Banned | Skunks are not on any Utah list, and unlisted species are presumed prohibited. Utah also bars taking native mammals from the wild for personal possession.Not on any list; treated as prohibited until assessed | Utah Admin. Code R657-3b-7 and Table 3b-1 |
| Vermont | Banned | The skunk is not on Vermont's Domestic, Unrestricted or Restricted lists, so it is treated as Restricted. The wildlife rule says no permit is issued to keep a wild animal in captivity except for scientific or educational purposes.Permit only for bona fide scientific or educational purposes (10 V.S.A. 4152) | 10 App. V.S.A. 18 sections 4.1 and 5.1(a) |
| Virginia | Banned | Virginia treats skunks as wild animals, and possessing one is unlawful unless specifically permitted by law. No pet permit route is offered. Exceptions exist for rehabilitators and similar permit holders. | Va. Code 29.1-521(A)(10) |
| Washington | Banned | WDFW states it is illegal to keep skunks as pets. Skunks are native wild animals, and possession needs a permit not available to pet owners. | WAC 220-450-030(4); RCW 77.08.010(72) |
| West Virginia | Permit needed | The skunk is native wildlife. A Division of Natural Resources pet permit is required, and the animal must come from a licensed commercial dealer or be taken in open season.Pet permit, W. Va. Code 20-2-51; bill of sale from licensed dealer; no sale or breeding | W. Va. Code 20-2-51; 20-2-4; 58 CSR 64 7.6 |
| Wisconsin | Permit needed | A live skunk may be kept only by a holder of a Class A or Class B captive wild animal farm licence, and it cannot be taken from the wild. Without that licence possession is illegal.Class A or B captive wild animal farm licence; no wild-caught skunks; descenting only by a licensee | Wis. Stat. 169.04(2)(e) |
| Wyoming | Depends | Skunks are predatory animals in Wyoming. One captured in Wyoming may be kept without a permit, but importing one is prohibited, so a pet skunk from out of state is not allowed.No permit if captured in Wyoming; importation prohibited | Wyo. Game & Fish Comm'n Ch. 10, Sections 12,... |
Federal law
No federal law restricts keeping one as a pet; state law decides.
Why states regulate it
The striped skunk is a native wild animal, and rabies is the reason that comes up most. Animal Diversity Web calls skunks a notorious carrier of rabies, and no rabies vaccine is approved for skunks, so a pet that bites someone may be killed for brain testing rather than quarantined. States that restrict skunks usually cite concerns like these. Rules differ by state, and the table in this guide shows what each one says. Check the actual state rule before you think about buying, because the answer can differ a lot from one state to the next.
Before you buy
- A pet skunk needs a home that's been skunk-proofed. Their claws are good at opening doors, cabinets, drawers and refrigerators, and a skunk left alone all day can turn destructive.
- No rabies vaccine is approved for skunks. Some vets use a dog and cat product off-label, but animal control may still treat your skunk as unvaccinated after a bite.
- Skunks are omnivores. A PBS Nature article advises fresh lean protein, vegetables, some fruit and cooked grains, because their digestive systems handle processed food poorly.
- Descenting is a surgery people debate, and a lost pet skunk is in serious danger. It has no homing instinct, can't defend itself without scent glands, and cars are the biggest threat.
- Captive skunks can live up to about 10 years, which is a long commitment. Ask whether a vet near you will actually treat a skunk before you buy.
Sources for the facts about the animal: animaldiversity.org, pbs.org, petplace.com, en.wikipedia.org.
Check your own state
The legality checker shows one animal in one state with its source, and exotic pet laws by state lists every state we cover. Related guides: raccoon, ferret, red fox.
How we checked. For each state we read the statutes, administrative code and agency lists that govern keeping wild or exotic animals, and every row above links to the text it rests on. A second, independent reviewer then re-read the same sources, and a row is shown only if it survived that check. "Not verified yet" means a state's rule could not be read or confirmed, which is a gap in our data and not a green light. County and city ordinances, landlord and insurance rules, and federal law sit on top of the state rule. Read how we check. See an error? Email hello@creaturesincrisis.org with the link.
Quick answers
- Is it legal to own a skunk in California?
- Banned. Skunks are named in the restricted carnivore order and are not exempt, so they fall under the catch-all for other families. The only permits are for specified purposes such as exhibiting, breeding or research, so there is no pet permit.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Texas?
- Banned. Texas bars possessing a live skunk without a fur-bearing animal propagation licence, and TPWD says it will not issue that licence for skunks because of rabies rules. The licence is not a pet permit.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Florida?
- Permit needed. A skunk taken from the wild cannot be kept as a pet. A captive-bred skunk is Class III and needs a no-cost personal-use permit from the FWC.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in New York?
- Banned. Skunks are on the dangerous animal list, including captive-bred ones. Licences are not available for pets.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Pennsylvania?
- Banned. Pennsylvania bars importing or possessing skunks. No pet permit route was found.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Illinois?
- Banned. The state will not issue breeder permits to hold or breed striped skunks acquired after July 1, 1975. A new pet skunk therefore cannot be kept legally, and the wildlife code protects the species.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Ohio?
- Permit needed. This native fur-bearer needs a Division of Wildlife noncommercial propagating license ($25). Only captive-bred animals from a licensed source qualify, and wild-caught animals never do.
- Is it legal to own a skunk in Georgia?
- Banned. Skunks are native wildlife, and the state says licences are not issued to hold native wildlife as pets. Skunk is named on its list of species that may not be kept as pets.
- Is skunk legal in every state?
- No. In our data it is banned in 36 states and needs a permit in 8. The table above shows each state.
- Does 'no state restriction found' mean I can buy one?
- No. It means the state rule we read does not ban it or require a state permit. County and city rules, federal law, sale and import rules and your landlord can still stop you.