Some people apparantly have them as pets:
"SPANKING OR HITTING A BIG NO NO!
Discipline should be the tone and volume of your voice. Never use your hands, rolled newspaper, fly swatter, etc, because, even though skunks don't see very well, their ears and nose work extremely well and their intellect tells them that YOU were at the end of that thing that just hit them. Remember, skunks never forget, nor do they forgive! You have never before dealt with an animal as smart as a skunk, unless you have had two year olds in your life.
Who on earth...??
*shakes head* There is no understanding people, Sam.
I've known some pretty stinky two year olds...