The skunk is a common North American mammal, instantly recognizable by its distinct black and white coat. This creature is classified as an omnivore, meaning its diet consists of both plant and animal matter. Skunks have a varied and flexible menu that changes depending on the season and available food sources. Their versatility allows them to thrive in a wide range of habitats, from rural woodlands to suburban backyards.
The Skunk’s Natural Menu
The protein-rich component of a skunk’s natural diet involves invertebrates. Skunks consume large quantities of insects, including grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, and their larvae. A favorite target is the subterranean larva, or grub, which they locate using their keen sense of smell and dig out of the soil. Their powerful foreclaws are adapted for digging, creating the small, cone-shaped holes often seen in lawns as they search for earthworms and grubs. Skunks also prey on small vertebrates when the opportunity arises, such as mice, voles, shrews, and small reptiles, and will raid the nests of ground-dwelling birds to consume eggs and nestlings.
Plant-Based and Foraged Foods
The non-animal portion of the skunk’s diet is gathered and dependent on seasonal availability. During late summer and fall, when insects become less plentiful, skunks shift their focus to consuming more plant matter. These foraged foods include wild berries like blackberries, raspberries, and cherries. They also consume roots, seeds, grasses, leaves, and fungi found on the forest floor. Nuts, such as pecans and walnuts, become a food source as they drop from trees in the autumn, ensuring the skunk can maintain its calorie intake as seasons transition.
Opportunistic Feeding and Human Environments
Skunks are opportunistic feeders, and their presence in residential areas is due to available food sources. Unsecured garbage cans offer an easy, high-calorie meal, often containing discarded meat, produce, and other food scraps. Skunks are attracted to these strong odors and will overturn containers to gain access. Outdoor pet food, particularly kibble left out overnight, is another major attractant, providing a concentrated source of protein and fat. Skunks also eat fallen birdseed from feeders and feast on ripe garden produce, such as corn, melons, and tomatoes, often leaving behind scattered trash or small, dug-up patches in the lawn.