Skunks are opportunistic omnivores that feed on a varied diet of lawn grubs, insects, small rodents, fallen fruit, pet food, and household garbage. They are drawn to residential yards that provide easy access to these food supplies, clean drinking water, and sheltered nesting spaces under decks or sheds. By removing these key attractants and securing potential den sites, homeowners can effectively keep skunks off their property.
The Skunk Diet: What Do Skunks Eat?
Skunks have a flexible diet that changes based on the season and local availability. Because they are omnivores, their feeding habits adapt to whatever food is easiest to obtain in their environment.
Insects and Invertebrates
Insects make up the majority of a skunk’s natural diet, especially during spring and summer. Skunks use their strong front claws to dig through turf and soil in search of nutritious invertebrates, including:
- Lawn grubs (beetle larvae)
- Cutworms and earthworms
- Grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles
- Bees, wasps, and yellow jackets (skunks will dig up ground nests)
When skunks forage for grubs, they often leave shallow, cone-shaped holes across lawns. While this digging damages turf, their appetite for insects helps control lawn pests naturally.
Small Animals and Eggs
In addition to insects, skunks hunt small animals and scavenge animal proteins. Much like what opossums eat, a skunk’s diet includes opportunistic prey such as:
- Field mice, voles, and young rats
- Frogs, toads, and small lizards
- Bird eggs and fledglings from ground-nesting species
- Snakes and crayfish
Their ability to catch small rodents can reduce local pest populations, but it also draws them close to outdoor chicken coops and bird nests.
Fruits, Vegetables, and Plant Matter
During the fall, when insects become less abundant, skunks rely more heavily on plant material to build up fat reserves for winter. Their plant diet consists of:
- Berries and wild fruits
- Fallen apples, pears, and plums
- Nuts and seeds
- Garden crops like corn and melons
While insects remain their preferred meal, skunks will eat cultivated crops similar to what groundhogs eat when fruit or vegetable gardens are left unprotected.
Scavenged Foods
Human developments provide skunks with a wealth of easy meals. Skunks frequently scavenge in residential areas for:
- Unattended outdoor pet food
- Garbage from unsecured trash cans
- Compost heaps containing food scraps
- Spilled seed beneath bird feeders
What Attracts Skunks to Your Yard?
Skunks rarely wander into yards by accident; they visit properties that satisfy their basic survival needs for food, water, and shelter.
Abundant Food Supplies
An overabundance of insects or accessible human food is the primary reason skunks frequent a yard. Over-watering a lawn can draw beetle grubs to the surface, creating an ideal feeding ground. Unsealed garbage cans, pet bowls left outside overnight, and low-hanging bird feeders are equally enticing. Understanding what attracts fleas and other outdoor pests often reveals that wildlife activity and unmanaged yard debris go hand in hand.
Accessible Water
Skunks require fresh water daily. Features like low-lying birdbaths, leaky garden hoses, dripping outdoor faucets, automatic sprinklers, and pet water dishes offer reliable hydration, keeping skunks nearby.
Safe Nesting and Shelter Options
Skunks prefer dark, quiet spaces where they can rest during the day and raise their young. Common shelter spots include:
- Spaces beneath decks, porches, and sheds
- Hollow logs and brush piles
- Crawl spaces with broken vents
- Abandon burrows dug by other animals
While homeowners often worry about rat burrows in your yard, skunks will readily enlarge existing burrows or settle under structures where low clearance offers protection from large predators.
How to Identify Skunk Activity
Recognizing early signs of skunks allows you to address attractants before the animal establishes a permanent den. Look for these common indicators:
- Cone-shaped holes: Small, shallow divots (about 1 to 3 inches deep) surrounded by loose soil in your lawn.
- Faint or strong musk smell: A persistent sulfurous odor near porches, sheds, or crawl spaces.
- Tipped trash cans: Disturbed refuse bins with scattered food wrappers.
- Footprints: Five-toed prints showing distinct claw marks near mud or soft garden soil.
Practical Ways to Keep Skunks Away
Managing wildlife on your property involves modifying the environment so it becomes uninviting. Similar to techniques used when getting rid of squirrels in the yard, preventing skunks requires a combination of sanitation and exclusion.
Eliminate Food and Water
- Feed domestic pets indoors and clean up any spilled food immediately.
- Secure garbage cans with tight-fitting lids or heavy-duty latches.
- Harvest ripe fruits and vegetables promptly, and clear fallen fruit from the ground.
- Remove bird feeders or install catch trays to stop seeds from accumulating on the lawn.
- Fix dripping spigots and drain standing water.
Seal Off Potential Den Sites
- Inspect your home’s perimeter, deck, and outbuildings for gaps.
- Install heavy-gauge hardware cloth around the base of decks and sheds, burying the wire 6 to 12 inches underground with an outward L-bend to stop digging.
- Cap chimney flues and repair damaged crawl space vents.
- Clear away brush piles, rock heaps, and stacked lumber.
Use Repellents and Barriers Safely
Commercial animal repellents containing natural ingredients like capsaicin or castor oil can temporarily deter digging. When using chemical treatments or commercially formulated repellents, always follow the manufacturer’s product label instructions carefully. For severe infestations or entrenched burrows, consider consulting a licensed pest control professional.
Safety Note for Children and Pets
Keep children and pets away from areas where wild skunks or chemical deterrents are present. Skunks can carry diseases such as rabies and may spray pets if cornered or threatened. Always supervise dogs outdoors at night when skunks are most active.
Health and First Aid Considerations
Skunks generally avoid confrontation, but encounters with humans or pets can result in spraying or bites.
What to Do If Sprayed
If a pet is sprayed, keep the animal outside to avoid bringing the scent indoors. Wash the pet thoroughly using a commercial skunk-odor neutralizing shampoo or a standard mix of dilute hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap. Rinse thoroughly with clean water, taking care to keep the mixture away from the eyes.
What to Do If Bitten or Scratched
Skunks are a primary vector for rabies in North America. If a human or pet is bitten or scratched by a skunk:
- Wash the wound thoroughly with warm water and soap for several minutes immediately.
- Seek immediate medical attention from a physician or healthcare provider.
- If a pet was bitten, contact a veterinarian right away to review rabies vaccination status and receive proper guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are skunks active during the day?
Skunks are primarily nocturnal, meaning they hunt and forage at night. However, seeing a skunk during the day is not always a sign of disease. Pregnant or nursing females may forage during daylight hours to meet increased energy demands, as can skunks searching for scarce food during cold weather.
Do skunks eat garden vegetables?
Yes, skunks will eat garden crops such as corn, tomatoes, melons, and leafy greens if easily accessible, although insects remain their main food choice. Installing fencing buried a few inches into the ground helps protect vegetable gardens.
How far can a skunk spray its scent?
A skunk can accurately spray its musk up to 10 to 15 feet away. They usually issue warning signs before spraying, such as stamping their front feet, raising their tail, or hissing.
Conclusion
Skunks are attracted to yards by abundant insects, easily accessible garbage, pet food, and sheltered spaces beneath home structures. By removing food sources, repairing leaks, and sealing off potential den sites with wire mesh, you can protect your yard without harming local wildlife. If you suspect a skunk has built a nest under your home or poses an ongoing hazard, contact a local wildlife removal professional for assistance.