Skunks are common nocturnal visitors to residential areas, often drawn by easy food sources like grubs, pet food, or unsecured garbage. The question of how these animals enter a yard typically revolves around two methods: climbing over the fence or digging underneath it. Understanding the physical capabilities of a skunk is the first step toward effective property exclusion. The common striped skunk, the species most frequently encountered in North America, is physically adapted for ground travel and excavation, not for vertical ascent.
Skunk Climbing Capabilities and Limitations
The striped skunk is generally a poor climber due to its stocky body, short limbs, and waddling gait, which limit vertical mobility. Their front claws are long and non-retractable, an adaptation designed for digging that provides limited grip on slick or vertical surfaces. This physical build explains why striped skunks occasionally fall into window wells and cannot climb back out.
While they are not agile climbers like raccoons or squirrels, they are not entirely incapable of upward movement. A skunk can manage to climb low obstacles, such as stacked firewood, low-hanging branches, or rough surfaces up to about 18 inches high. They can also navigate chain-link fences if the links are close enough to provide adequate footholds for their non-retractable claws. However, smooth surfaces like vinyl fencing, metal siding, or tall wooden fences present a significant challenge that their anatomy is not equipped to overcome.
It is important to note that the smaller, more agile spotted skunk, a different species, is an excellent climber. Unlike the common striped skunk, the spotted skunk possesses a more flexible body and can scale trees and descend headfirst. Since the striped skunk is the more prevalent species in residential settings, its limited climbing capacity is the most relevant factor for homeowners concerned about fence breaches.
The Primary Breach: Skunks and Digging
The primary method skunks use to bypass a perimeter fence is digging. Skunks are highly effective excavators, relying on their powerful forelimbs and specialized long claws to burrow into soil. This digging behavior is driven by their search for food, particularly insect larvae and grubs, or their need to access shelter beneath structures.
Skunks can dig under fences, sheds, porches, and decks to create a den site or to gain access to a yard. The depth of their burrows is usually shallow but sufficient to compromise a standard fence line. They can generally burrow up to a foot underground, which is enough to bypass most standard fence post installations. Common entry points are often found where the soil is softest, such as under gates, at fence corners, or where the ground meets a foundation.
They will persistently dig to find their way to a perceived food source or a safe den location. Homeowners may notice small, cone-shaped holes, typically three to four inches deep, scattered across their lawn, indicating a skunk has been foraging for grubs and other insects.
Skunk-Proofing Your Perimeter
Effective skunk exclusion requires addressing both the vertical barrier and, more importantly, the ground barrier. For the vertical aspect, ensuring your fence is smooth and at least four feet high is generally sufficient to deter the non-climbing striped skunk. Smooth materials like vinyl or solid wood paneling offer no purchase for their claws, making ascent impossible.
The most effective strategy involves installing a physical underground barrier to counteract their digging instincts. This is accomplished by using a technique often referred to as an L-footer. This method requires burying heavy gauge hardware cloth or galvanized wire mesh approximately 12 inches deep along the entire fence line. Crucially, the mesh should then be bent at a 90-degree angle and extended outward for at least 12 to 18 inches.
When a skunk attempts to dig down at the base of the fence, its efforts will be met by the horizontal wire skirt. The skunk’s natural instinct is to continue digging down, but the wire prevents downward progress, effectively blocking the burrowing attempt. This L-footer mesh should be tightly secured to the bottom of the fence or structure, and all gaps under gates, decks, or sheds should be sealed with the same hardware cloth or concrete to eliminate potential den sites.