Finding small holes pocked in your lawn is a clear sign that a nocturnal visitor has been at work. The striped skunk, an adaptable omnivore, is a common culprit behind this digging. Understanding this food-driven behavior is the first step in protecting your property. Skunks are simply following their instincts to find sustenance, often viewing your yard as an appealing, easy-access buffet.
What Skunks Are Searching For (Food Sources)
The primary reason a skunk digs holes in a lawn is to hunt for subterranean invertebrates, which make up a large portion of its diet. Skunks have a highly developed sense of smell that allows them to detect insect larvae, earthworms, and other soil-dwelling creatures from above ground. They use their long, sharp front claws and strong forelimbs to excavate these food sources, creating the characteristic small divots in the turf.
Beetle larvae, often referred to as white grubs, are a particularly favored delicacy and a major attraction for skunks. Even low grub density can draw skunks and raccoons to a yard for feeding. This foraging intensifies during late summer and fall as skunks increase their caloric intake to build up fat reserves for winter.
Skunks are opportunistic eaters, and their diet extends beyond soil insects to include fallen fruit, nuts, berries, and small rodents. Since they cannot climb or jump well, they rely on ground-level food sources, which makes unsecured garbage cans, compost piles, and pet food left outdoors highly attractive. If they detect a nest of ground-dwelling wasps or yellow jackets, they will also dig up the nest to consume the larvae and adults, leaving a larger, more disturbed hole.
How to Confirm Skunk Activity (Signs and Scat)
Identifying the animal responsible is important, as raccoons or armadillos also dig for food. Skunk digging creates small, conical holes, typically two to four inches in diameter, which look like divots or small plugs of turf removed. The damage often appears as if the lawn has been lightly aerated, with multiple shallow holes scattered across the area.
Raccoon damage is noticeably different; they use their dexterous paws to tear back and flip over large sections of sod. The distinct, musky odor of skunk spray is a strong secondary indicator, though its absence does not rule out a skunk. Skunk scat is usually dark brown or black, tubular, and often contains visible insect parts, seeds, or berry remnants. Unlike raccoons, skunks tend to leave their droppings scattered wherever they are foraging.
Making Your Yard Less Appealing (Exclusion and Habitat Modification)
The most effective, long-term solution for preventing skunk digging is to eliminate the food source attracting them. Reducing the population of grubs and larvae using appropriate lawn treatments makes the yard less of a target. However, some treatments may only drive grubs deeper into the soil, encouraging skunks to dig more aggressively.
Securing other easy food sources is equally important, as skunks are highly motivated by accessible meals. Make sure all garbage cans have tight-fitting or locking lids and that pet food is never left outdoors, especially overnight. Promptly pick up fallen fruit from trees, and ensure bird seed is not accumulating on the ground beneath feeders.
Physical Exclusion and Deterrents
Physical exclusion and deterrents can also discourage skunk visits. Skunks often seek shelter under structures like decks, porches, or sheds. These areas should be sealed off using heavy-gauge wire mesh or hardware cloth. To prevent digging under the barrier, the material should be buried at least six to twelve inches below the ground and bent outward in an L-shape. Motion-activated devices, such as sprinklers or bright lights, can startle nocturnal skunks and make them feel less secure.
Minimizing Risk (Spray and Health Concerns)
Skunks are generally non-aggressive and will only spray as a last resort when they feel threatened or cornered. Before spraying, they often give warning signs, such as hissing, stomping their front feet, or raising their tail. The spray itself is an oily, yellowish secretion that causes intense irritation to the eyes and lungs.
If a pet is sprayed, a homemade solution of one quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, one-quarter cup of baking soda, and a teaspoon of liquid dish soap is more effective than tomato juice for neutralizing the odor. Skunks are one of the primary carriers of rabies in North America. Rabies is transmitted through saliva, typically via a bite, not through the spray.
The risk of encountering a rabid skunk is low, but avoid any animal exhibiting abnormal behavior, such as staggering, aggression, or daytime activity. If a bite occurs, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately, and ensure all pets’ rabies vaccinations are current.