Small, conical holes scattered across a lawn are a common frustration for homeowners. These depressions often indicate that a striped skunk has been foraging overnight. Skunks are nocturnal mammals, and their digging is an instinctual behavior driven by the search for subterranean prey. Understanding the underlying reasons for this activity is the first step toward reclaiming a smooth, healthy yard.
The Driving Force Behind Skunk Digging
Skunks are opportunistic omnivores, meaning their diet is highly varied, but they have a particular fondness for insects and larvae. The primary motivation for their digging is a powerful foraging instinct combined with a keen sense of smell. They use their long, sharp front claws to probe and excavate the soil where they detect food sources just beneath the surface.
This digging behavior is a survival necessity and often increases seasonally. In late summer and fall, skunks intensify foraging efforts to build up fat reserves for colder months, leading to more concentrated damage in yards. A consistently watered or well-fertilized lawn can inadvertently attract skunks by making it easier to dig and supporting a robust population of their preferred prey.
Specific Food Sources Skunks Target
When a skunk digs, it is almost always hunting for invertebrate populations dwelling in the topsoil. The most common target is the larvae of various beetles, collectively known as grubs, particularly those of the Japanese beetle or European chafer. These grubs feed on grass roots and live just below the turf, making them easily accessible.
Another significant food source is earthworms, which are especially appealing when the soil is moist and they migrate closer to the surface. Skunks also consume other soil-dwelling insects, such as cutworms and crickets, which are highly nutritious protein sources. The presence of a high concentration of these pests effectively turns a lawn into an irresistible buffet, directly correlating the pest population with the severity of the digging.
How to Confirm Skunk Activity vs. Other Animals
It is helpful to correctly identify the culprit, as other nocturnal animals also dig in yards. Skunks typically leave small, neat, conical holes, roughly two to four inches wide and shallow. They press their noses into the ground to follow the scent of an insect and then dig straight down with their front claws to extract the target.
This is different from the damage caused by raccoons, which are much messier. Raccoons use their highly dexterous forepaws to tear up and flip over large, irregular patches of sod in their search for food. While both species hunt for grubs, the skunk’s damage is localized and precise, whereas the raccoon’s is characterized by larger, more extensive areas of torn-up turf. A lingering, musky odor around the disturbed patches confirms a skunk’s recent presence.
Implementing Deterrents to Protect Your Yard
The most effective long-term solution for preventing skunk digging is eliminating the primary food source they are after. Grub control treatments, either chemical or biological, significantly reduce the insect population and make the yard less attractive. Biological control methods, such as applying beneficial nematodes or milky spore disease, target the grubs specifically and offer an environmentally conscious approach.
Physical and olfactory deterrents can also discourage skunks from entering the yard. Skunks have poor eyesight and dislike bright lights, so installing motion-activated sprinklers or floodlights can startle them and cause them to flee the area. Repellents that utilize strong odors or tastes, like capsaicin-based sprays or a mixture of castor oil and dish soap, can be applied to the lawn to make the food unappealing. This treatment should be reapplied every few days or after heavy rain to maintain its effectiveness.