Skunks, with their distinctive black and white markings and a well-known defensive spray, are common mammals across North America. Understanding their dietary habits offers insight into their behavior and presence in various environments.
The Omnivorous Skunk Diet
Skunks are omnivores, eating both plants and animals. Up to 70% of their diet consists of insects, making them natural pest controllers. They actively seek beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and various insect larvae like grubs and worms. Skunks also favor bees and wasps, using their thick fur to protect themselves while raiding hives for adults, larvae, and honeycomb.
Beyond invertebrates, skunks hunt small vertebrates like mice, voles, shrews, birds, and their eggs. They also eat amphibians such as frogs and salamanders, and reptiles like small snakes and lizards. Plant-based foods include fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, roots, and fungi. Skunks are opportunistic scavengers, readily consuming carrion.
Seasonal and Habitat Influences
A skunk’s diet changes throughout the year. During spring and summer, insects and grubs are abundant, becoming their main food source. As fall arrives, their eating habits shift towards higher-calorie foods like nuts and seeds, which help them build fat reserves for colder months. In winter, when food is scarcer, skunks rely on these fat reserves and may consume more fruits, seeds, roots, and carrion.
Habitat also influences what skunks eat. In rural areas, their diet primarily consists of natural forage like insects, small animals, and wild plant matter. In urban and suburban environments, skunks adapt their diet to include human-related food sources. They use their keen sense of smell and powerful forearms with sharp claws to dig for food, creating small, conical pits in lawns when searching for grubs.
Skunks in Human Environments
Skunks are attracted to readily available food sources in human environments. Accessible garbage, outdoor pet food, birdseed, and garden produce can draw skunks to residential areas. They are effective scavengers, rummaging through trash for food scraps and attracted to strong-smelling items like meat and spoiled fruits. Avoid intentional feeding, as it can lead to dependency on human food and introduce unsuitable foods, potentially causing health issues.
To deter skunks, secure trash cans with tight-fitting lids and store pet food indoors. Promptly harvest garden produce and clean up spilled birdseed to reduce attraction. Seal gaps under decks or sheds with heavy-gauge wire or metal sheeting to prevent denning. Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can also startle skunks and make an area less appealing.