It's all just personal opinion, but I've never seen a skunk that I thought was a good pet. If you had a wide experience with non-domestic animals, and you had a need for one to use in animals shows or something like that, they have their place. However, I wouldn't recommend them for anyone just looking for a new pet. They aren't cuddly/fun like a ferret, they can be playful but there is always a sharp edge to it. All of them have differing temperaments, but it isn't unusual to see them bite without warning or (what we would perceive as) provocation. They seem very moody to me, sometimes it's all play, other times you just need to let them be.
They tend to get obese in captivity and require real attention to the diet. There aren't a lot of vets who will work with them because of the rabies issue. You should also check
local animal control laws, because skunks are banned in some areas of the country.
And probably the biggest argument is that they cannot be vaccinated for rabies. You can give them the vaccine, but there are no studies to prove that it works on skunks. If your pet bites someone, in most cases (unless the person agrees to undergo rabies shots ...which you will have to pay for, ...around $800 last I checked) the ONLY solution that
animal control will accept is to have the animal put down and tested for rabies. And since skunks tend to be bitey, it's a real risk to let anyone around them.
I would never consider housing the skunks with the ferrets. They are both very efficient predators, and any play could easily turn deadly for one or the other.
bob
