Skunks are adaptable creatures found in various environments, from woodlands to suburban areas. Despite their unique defense mechanism, they face many threats in the wild. These challenges impact skunk populations, and understanding them provides insight into wildlife survival.
Natural Predators
Despite their potent defensive spray, skunks are preyed upon by several animal species. Great horned owls are effective predators, often attacking from above to minimize exposure to the skunk’s spray. Their keen eyesight and silent flight allow them to capture skunks unaware. Skunk remains are frequently found in owl nests.
Other predators, such as coyotes and foxes, may also target skunks, though they typically do so with caution to avoid the spray. Coyotes sometimes attempt surprise attacks, aiming for quick incapacitation. Bobcats and badgers are additional carnivores that may prey on skunks, especially if other food sources are scarce.
Disease and Illness
Disease plays a substantial role in skunk mortality. Rabies is a viral disease affecting skunks, which are a significant reservoir for the virus in some regions. Rabid skunks may exhibit abnormal behaviors such as daytime activity, disorientation, and aggression, ultimately leading to death. The virus is transmitted through bites, and once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.
Canine distemper is another highly contagious viral disease that causes high mortality rates in skunks. Symptoms include lethargy, respiratory issues, eye discharge, and neurological signs like seizures. Distemper spreads through respiratory secretions, urine, saliva, and feces. Canine parvovirus can also infect skunks, causing gastrointestinal illness. Skunks are also susceptible to skunk amdoparvovirus (SKAV), a newly identified virus that can cause multi-systemic disease, including kidney and heart damage.
Environmental Hazards
Skunks face mortality risks from environmental factors. Harsh weather conditions, such as extreme cold, heat, or flooding, impact their survival. Skunks become dormant during severe winter periods, relying on stored fat reserves. Prolonged cold can lead to weight loss and compromise their health, making them more vulnerable.
Starvation can occur when food resources become scarce, particularly during lean seasons or due to habitat degradation. Skunks are omnivores, adapting their diets to seasonal availability, but a severe lack of insects, small rodents, fruits, or carrion can lead to malnutrition. Accidental deaths, such as falls, drowning, or getting trapped in natural structures like crevices or abandoned burrows, also contribute to their mortality. These environmental pressures can weaken individual skunks, making them more susceptible to other causes of death.
Human-Related Mortality
Human activities contribute significantly to skunk mortality, with vehicle collisions being a prominent cause. Skunks are often roadkill, especially near human development, as they cross roads for food or mates. Their tendency to stand ground or move slowly makes them vulnerable. Road mortality peaks in spring during breeding season when males travel more.
Other human-related factors include accidental poisoning from pesticides or rodenticides used in agricultural or residential settings. Skunks may ingest these toxic substances indirectly by consuming contaminated prey or bait. Incidental trapping, where skunks are unintentionally caught in traps set for other animals, can also lead to injury or death. While skunks can adapt to human presence and find food and shelter in developed areas, these interactions also expose them to increased risks.