i see dead skunks almost daily... road kill.

some keep them... it's rare though...

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If they had been eating her, would the signs indicating these be rather obvious as opposed to just fight wounds/injuries? What I am saying is if they had started to eat her then I am sure they would probably not stop unless disturbed, thus the appearance on the body would be much more gruesome??

Also, if attacked would there be more blood loss & thus blood clotting on the fur at the site of the injury, whereas being eaten I would assume less blood flowing as the body was already lifeless & heart not pumping etc?

I have already said to Pouchie that unless the whole incident was witnessed it is only an assumption (made on the well known fact that pregnant females can (not always) get very aggressive)that it was mum/Koko to blame - if Stella had started coming into season early (her mum did) then Bear/Dad could also have been to blame.

Or alternatively a scrap broke out over food & Stella sadly lost - skunks can be very aggressive over food as I am sure all skunk keepers with more than 1 animal know.

At the end of the day we could sit all day surmising over the situation, but the fact of the matter is with regret Stella is no longer with us & this post will provide valuable insight & info for people already with or intending in getting skunks; especially those who think they might want to breed them at home.

I for one am saddened by the loss as I knew Stella from only weeks old have had the pleasure of spending time in her company (as did my 2 females), plus I am also impressed with Pouchie for posting this on RFUK, knowing she would get some back lash even though she was trying to make people aware of possible dangers.

RIP Stella, go run free with your little brother Diablo.

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sorry i just wanted to know why you were keeping a near sexually mature female with her father as the chances of inbreeding and breeding too young was too great a risk i personally would'nt have took.
i wasnt after skunk breeding info just found a question i was interested in that had been 'passed' over and not answered.

Ken- caz may have found Stella just as they had started so they may not have had time to get very far. Also these are nerys' thoughts not mine. She did say the blood would be different on a pm so you would be able to establish whether she had died prior to the injuries or not. Can't remember exactly what she said as my phone is upstairs. As for you being impressed that caz has posted about this cos she would get stick about it why would she? Also I don't see that she's got stick about it from anyone

Jungle- my questions generally do get passed over by caz as she always thinks I'm having a go.

Oh and jungle spoken to a couple of people who said resting period between skunk litters is recommended to be 12 months, so no need to start your own thread

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It was duly 'passed over' because it has got nothing to do with anyone else. If you insist on my explaining breeding daughter back to father, one litter was planned with relation to learning more about colour genetics and the kits would have stayed here with me because as anybody who knows me would testify, all of my breeding is geared toward conservation and genetic diversity so the last thing I would do is sell on 'inbred' kits if that was your concern.

As far as your comments about breeding too young ... Skunks do not come out of season unless mated and I am pretty sure they don't go to the vets in the wild and book themselves in for a jill jab. Most wild skunks have a litter by the time they are 1. Stella was 9 months old already and not even in season yet so you do the math.

Same goes for the 'resting period' crap. Koko has had a second season 10 months after the last one and it happens to be in the same calendar year that she will have kits again - this point is just mud slinging again and has no merit. It is just meant to question my breeding ethics which is ludicrous. If it is not about the skunks and it is clearly people being jealous or having a chip on their shoulder I haven't got time for it.

This thread is not supposed to be about me or my breeding efforts - its not up for discussion. I have only answered these questions because they have now been asked three times and are detracting from the reason I gave this information about what happened here.

As for those who believe Stella died beforehand for some bizarre reason - you did not see the body so it seems a bizarre conclusion to make. I did not SEE it happen but it was plainly obvious that Stella had been grabbed by the head and ragged. I can tell the difference between a set of deep puncture marks and something having been partially eaten!

Out of respect for Stella I think the discussion should end here, there isnt anything else to say and quite frankly it is too upsetting for me to be asked these kinds of things right now while I am still grieving for her.

Sorry.

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Probably because most posts on this forum end up in some sort of back lash and I know she could have easily not posted on RFUK at all, especially as there are personality clashes with certain members and posts often end up going off topic because of it.

My reply was not aimed at questioning anyone one person, just more of asking questions about the info provided......trying to work out possibilities, reasoning & evidence that might give a clearer picture to what actually happened.

One of the problems that is becoming apparent is knowing if a skunk is pregnant or not.....especially with them being able to delay things......so, even if they are seen mating there is no guarantee that babies will follow. So, does this mean once mated they should then be kept apart? Not always easy in a home environment unless you have built special pens in readiness. Also keeping offspring with parents - maybe not a wise idea going by this sad death?? There is so much we yet don't understand with keeping & breeding many exotics, not just skunks....and the whole breeding issue is certainly NOT very straightforward

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i guess the message is, if you don't have the room to seperate a breeding female from any other animals in your house, don''t breed your skunks.

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I totally agree with all said ken i went through everything with caz too through pm

no one is ever going to know exactly what happened without it being witnessed

Caz has been very brave in putting a warning out there for other multiple skunk owners

RIP lil stella look after your lil brother Diablo

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Resting period crap? So are you saying that if a skunk came into season only a few months after weaning her last kits (if coming into season can happen that quick )then she should have another litter? It must be a lot for her body to take in such a small space of time. Just cos she's come into season doesn't mean she should be bred again. From finishin weaning to now being due for another lot has only been 6 months. Though my original point of her being pregnant was actually relevant to your original post as it was being discussed why koko might have done this- to which I asked if she had seen her as a threat? Or maybe her hormones were still up the spout from her last lot- as I said earlier I don't know that much about breeding though I don't claim to- it was merely a possibilty I put forward as to why this happened.

Also her dying before isn't as bizarre as you think, yes we didn't see the wounds but you also didn't see what happened so pretty much anythin was possible. I'm assuming you weren't in the house at the time as I would have thought if it was an attack you would have heard something.

I won't come back on this thread again as it's obvious you think i'm attacking you. I will say this though- if the subject or the possible what ifs weren't up for discussion then you should have posted in the rip section and not the chat section. I've said it once but I'll say it again I always have and always will have the greatest sympathy for you and your loss

Sleep well Stella

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I have no problem with you, and it is clear you are passionate about skunks and their care, which is great

but....

your posts come across as very accusatory.

It is clear you have had several disagreements with the OP and I think considering how upset she must be right now you could find another time or perhaps make another thread to voice concerns arising from this unfortunate death. someone is grieving here.

sorry to hear of your loss Pouchie, thank you for using it to educate others. I am sure you will take into consideration concerns being voiced here once you have come to terms with losing Stella.

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