If you’ve fallen down the pet skunk rabbit hole—maybe after seeing one too many adorable skunk videos on TikTok—and started wondering what it would actually be like to have one of these little black and white critters as a pet, you’re definitely not alone. Skunks can be surprisingly cute, curious, and personable, which makes it easy to see why people become interested in keeping one.

But before you start searching for a skunk breeder, there’s one important thing to know: pet skunks are not legal in Massachusetts.

But why are skunks banned? What does the law actually say? What could happen if you keep one anyway? And if you love the idea of an unusual lower maintenance pet, what can you legally keep instead?

Let’s break it all down.

Massachusetts takes a slightly different approach to exotic pets than some other states. Instead of having a long list of animals that are specifically banned, MassWildlife (the state’s Division of Fisheries and Wildlife) works from an approved list. That means you can only keep certain mammals as pets, and if a species isn’t on that list, you can’t legally keep it as a companion animal.

And Massachusetts approved list is fairly short—it includes animals such as sugar gliders, four-toed African pygmy hedgehogs, captive bred chinchillas, degus, Egyptian spiny mice, jerboas, and a handful of other small rodents. 

And if you’re wondering “What if I just get a permit?”—unfortunately, it’s not that simple. MassWildlife explains that permits for wild animals are intended for specific purposes, such as scientific, educational, or commercial activities. They aren’t issued simply because someone wants to keep a wild animal as a pet.

So, unfortunately, even a friendly, well socialized, descented skunk from a reputable out of state breeder doesn’t create an exception.

It helps to understand why Massachusetts takes such a strict approach to animals like skunks. Under the state’s regulatory framework, certain wild species can be exempt from licensing only if they meet specific criteria. In general, the animal must be unlikely to cause problems if it escapes, shouldn’t pose a significant risk to people through injury or disease, shouldn’t require care that goes well beyond what you’d expect for a typical domestic pet, and keeping or trading the species shouldn’t put wild populations at risk.

Skunks run into some of those concerns, particularly when it comes to public health. They’re an important rabies vector species in the Northeast, which puts them in a very different category from animals such as hedgehogs or degus.

Even a captive raised or descented skunk is still considered wildlife, and Massachusetts doesn’t have the same established rabies vaccination framework for skunks that exists for dogs and cats.

If you’ve come across articles or forum posts saying that pet skunks are legal in Massachusetts, you’re not imagining it. That information is repeated pretty often online, with one site copying another without anyone going back to check the actual state regulations.

A number of states do allow domesticated skunks under certain conditions, including places such as Florida, Ohio, and Indiana. Massachusetts, however, consistently falls on the not legal side when you look at properly sourced information and the state’s own guidance.

Keeping wildlife without the proper license in Massachusetts can have serious consequences. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 131, unauthorized possession can lead to civil or criminal penalties, and the rules are enforced by the state’s Environmental Police.

That means:

• Your skunk could be confiscated. If the animal is being kept illegally, you shouldn’t expect it to be returned to you. Confiscated wildlife generally cannot be given back to an unlicensed owner. If an appropriate licensed rescue or facility is unable to take the animal, euthanasia may be the outcome.

• You could face fines or other penalties. The exact consequences depend on the circumstances and the applicable law.

• A bite or scratch can create an even bigger problem. If an illegally kept skunk bites or scratches someone, the animal may have to be quarantined or in certain circumstances euthanized for rabies testing. Skunks don’t have the same established rabies vaccination framework as dogs and cats, which can make these situations much more complicated.

That last point is especially important to consider before bringing a pet skunk into your home. Even a captive raised, descented, and very friendly skunk can still create serious complications if it bites or scratches someone. Because of the way skunks are treated under rabies regulations, an incident can become a much bigger health and legal issue for both the animal and its owner.

Every spring, that state of Massachusetts sees plenty of situations where people come across baby skunks or “orphaned” skunk kits that appear to be on their own. Since skunks are common throughout the state and usually make their dens close to people, it’s easy to assume a kit has been abandoned when it might not be.

If you do find baby skunks that seem to be alone, the best thing you can do is contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or your local animal control officer rather than trying to raise them yourself. Wildlife rehabilitators know how to assess whether the babies actually need help and, when they do, they can provide the proper care with the goal of eventually returning healthy skunks back to the wild.

It may be tempting to take one home, especially when they’re tiny and seemingly helpless, but for a wild animal, getting the right help and ultimately returning to the wild is usually the best outcome.

Even though Massachusetts’ approved mammal list is pretty short, there are still some genuinely fun options if what appeals to you about skunks is having a quirky unusual pet that’s a little outside the norm.

A few worth looking into:

• Sugar gliders: Social, curious, and incredibly entertaining. They are nocturnal, so you’ll need to be comfortable with a pet that’s most active at night and requires a specialized diet.

• African pygmy hedgehogs: Quiet, relatively low maintenance, and a popular choice for someone looking to dip their toes into the world of unusual pets.

• Chinchillas: Long lived, incredibly soft, and generally low odor compared with many other small mammals. They do have specific temperature and care requirements, so they’re not completely hands-off.

• Degus: Smart, social, and active during the day, which can make them a fun alternative if you’d rather have a small pet that’s awake when you are.

These animals can give you that “definitely not a cat or dog” experience while still keeping you on the right side of Massachusetts law. Just make sure to check the latest MassWildlife guidelines before bringing one home, since exotic pet rules and requirements can change.