I’am home all day every day bar a couple of hours here and there , so no different than teaching a puppy to be left, though there will usually be someone else around.
He won’t have a cage, he’ll have safe areas while he’s little and adjusting, after that it’ll be free roaming. Skunks have no homing instinct so yes, I’ll need to be extra careful about doors and windows.
Skunks are diggers, rather than chewers though I’ll be making sure cords are safe regardless, toilet training can be hit and miss but I’m planning to be out with him regularly throughout the day so with a bit of observation I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to have most poops and wees either outside or on his litter tray.
Skunks can also be trained to adopt a slightly more regular sleep pattern. I’m in bed late and up early anyway so we can work around each other hopefully, though if he’s awake he’ll have a safe place to be while I sleep.
@Wishingwell75 I’m very passionate about feeding as close to a natural diet as possible so he’ll have protein in the shape of chicken, rabbit, turkey, worms and grubs and frog legs and a mix of fruit and veg on a daily basis. There is a lot of conflicting info out there on captive skunk diets but this best mimics the foods which he might find in the wild that I can access.
He’s been raised with humans so he’s used to interaction and the breeder reports that he’s both cuddly and playful. He’ll be harness trained in the garden in preparation for when he’s had his vaccinations and can go on walks in the woods or the beach.