The common striped skunk, or Mephitis mephitis, is a familiar sight in North American neighborhoods, often associated with a potent defensive spray and nighttime scavenging. These animals are opportunistic omnivores, consuming a wide variety of foods, which frequently brings them into close proximity with human homes. The primary concern for homeowners is often property damage, but skunks are generally not responsible for chewing structural wood or gnawing on building materials. Their presence is a sign of accessible food or suitable shelter, not a threat from a wood-chewing pest.
Skunks Are Not Wood Chewers
Skunks do not possess the specialized dental anatomy required for gnawing through wood like true rodents such as squirrels or mice. Rodents have continuously growing, chisel-like incisors designed for cutting hard plant matter, including wood. In contrast, a skunk’s 34 teeth include sharp canines and shearing carnassial teeth, which are adapted for tearing and consuming animal protein and grinding up insects.
Any damage that appears to be chewing is most often incidental to their efforts to gain access to a den site. A skunk may use its strong claws to tear at rotted wood or utilize an existing opening. If a skunk needs to enlarge a gap under a shed or porch, it may chew or push through soft material like siding or a screen. However, most structural damage attributed to skunks comes from their powerful digging behavior, not from systematic wood destruction.
Foraging Habits and Dietary Preferences
A skunk’s diet is highly flexible, shifting between plant and animal matter depending on the season and environment. They are particularly drawn to protein sources during warmer months, with insects and their larvae making up a substantial portion of their meals. This preference includes destructive pests like beetles, grasshoppers, and the larvae of Japanese and June beetles, commonly known as grubs.
The search for grubs is the most common cause of visible damage to residential yards. Skunks use their long, curved front claws to dig small, cone-shaped holes in lawns as they root out these underground insects. Beyond insects, skunks forage for small rodents, bird eggs, fallen fruits, nuts, and easily accessible human food waste. They are nocturnal scavengers, relying on their keen sense of smell to locate unsecured garbage, pet food left outdoors, or fallen birdseed, which acts as a strong attractant.
Deterring Skunks from Residential Areas
Managing skunk presence focuses primarily on removing the attractants that lure them onto the property. The most effective step is securing all potential food sources, including storing garbage cans in a locked shed or using containers with tightly secured lids. Pet food bowls should be brought inside immediately after use, especially at night when skunks are most active.
Exclusion is necessary to prevent them from establishing den sites beneath structures like sheds, porches, or decks. Skunks are excellent diggers, so sealing foundation gaps requires burying galvanized wire mesh or a similar barrier one to two feet deep around the perimeter. Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can also be effective, as the sudden change in their dark environment can startle the nocturnal animals away. Using strong scents that skunks dislike, such as capsaicin-based repellents or natural odors like citrus, near entry points may encourage them to find shelter elsewhere.