The skunk, a member of the Mephitidae family, is a highly adaptable creature recognized by its distinct black and white markings and specialized defense mechanism. Skunks are classified as opportunistic omnivores, meaning their diet is varied and dictated by what food sources are most readily available. This flexibility allows them to thrive in diverse habitats, ranging from wooded areas and grasslands to developed suburban environments. Their feeding habits encompass a wide array of both animal and plant matter throughout the year.
The Core Omnivorous Diet
A skunk’s natural diet consists mainly of invertebrates, which provide a consistent source of protein during warmer months. Skunks actively forage for insects such as grasshoppers and crickets, including beetle larvae and grubs. They use their specialized front claws to dig small, conical holes in soil and lawns to access these pests.
Beyond insects, the skunk diet includes small vertebrates, which they either actively hunt or scavenge. They consume small mammals like mice and moles, as well as reptiles and the eggs of ground-nesting birds. This animal matter is supplemented by a variety of plant-based foods, including roots, fungi, nuts, and berries that they find while foraging.
Diet and Seasonal Changes
Food availability shifts throughout the year, influencing the skunk’s diet. During the spring and summer, their diet is rich in high-protein items like insects and grubs, supporting the high energy demands associated with breeding and raising young. This is when they are most likely to be seen digging for burrowing invertebrates.
As autumn approaches, the focus shifts to accumulating fat reserves. Skunks begin to consume more calorie-dense foods, such as late-season fruits, seeds, and nuts. This hyperphagic phase ensures they build up sufficient body fat to sustain them when food becomes scarce.
Skunks do not undergo true hibernation but instead enter a state of torpor during the coldest parts of winter. Their activity level and metabolism decrease significantly, allowing them to rely primarily on the fat stores built up in the fall. They may occasionally emerge on warmer days to forage for minimal food items like roots or seeds, but their overall food intake is drastically reduced.
Food Sources in Developed Areas
Garbage and Compost
Skunks become highly adept scavengers, utilizing a range of readily available, non-natural food sources. Unsecured garbage cans and compost piles are major attractants, offering high-calorie food scraps like meat, dairy, and fruit remnants. They are drawn to the strong odors emitted by these waste sources, often scattering debris as they rummage.
Pet Food
Pet food left outdoors, particularly overnight, is another substantial lure. Skunks are attracted to both dry kibble and wet food, which are often high in the fats and proteins they seek. This can inadvertently create a consistent feeding station that encourages them to remain in residential areas.
Garden Produce
Garden produce also features prominently in the skunk diet. They will consume soft fruits like berries and fallen tree fruit, along with certain vegetables. While they sometimes eat garden pests, their consumption of ripe produce can lead to conflicts with homeowners.
Bird Seed
Bird feeders are a common attractant, due to spillage beneath the feeder. Fallen seeds, nuts, and grain mixtures provide an accessible, high-energy meal on the ground. Securing these human-provided resources is the most effective way to prevent skunks from establishing a regular presence near homes.