Skunk what do they eat

Skunks are neither fast-moving nor good climbers, so they are somewhat limited in the sources available to them. They eat a wide variety of plant foods, such as nuts, fruits, leaves, roots, some fungi and grass. Their palates are primed for insects and other animals as well. Skunks have no trouble feasting on bees and wasps.

When other animals are available, they can be found feasting on them as well, including:. When it comes to dining, they get their sustenance from whatever is available and within easy reach. Though they eat animals of all sorts, they are primarily foragers. Their lack of speed makes them inefficient hunters, except for the small prey that regularly ends up on the menu.

Their foraging skills and broad palate have allowed these mammals to do quite well in urban environments. Because they rarely travel more than 2 miles from their established dens, a skunk will typically settle down within 2 miles of a water source. Dens are made in tree hollows, hollowed out logs, brush piles, abandoned animal burrows, and underneath porches and other structures.

Skunks will occasionally dig their own burrows underground if no other shelter options are available. Though they typically prefer to dine on insects and grubs, skunks are omnivores, consuming a vast diet of both plant and animal matter. Skunks are opportunistic eaters, and their diets are flexible, often shifting with the seasons. Skunks can offer us another favor, too. Watching skunks such as this striped skunk in California can be an odor-free delight. Here are a few more tips to keep skunk relations cordial in your yard:.

Limit access. To keep skunks from adopting your outbuildings or crawl spaces as ready-made dens, screen openings in your foundation and under porches and keep garages and sheds closed at night. Hide the food. Skunks will happily snack on accessible treats such as pet food or open garbage, so remove these temptations to keep skunks from habituating to a regular nighttime buffet. Avoid encounters. Keep pets indoors between dusk and dawn, when skunks are most active.

Also, keep pets current on their rabies vaccinations and teach your children to observe wildlife from afar. Safely remove the smell. Instead, soak stinky skin or pet fur with a mix of four cups of hydrogen peroxide, a quarter-cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of dish soap. Leave it on for about five minutes, then rinse.

Lynne Warren wrote about conservation photography in the December—January issue. A groundbreaking bipartisan bill aims to address the looming wildlife crisis before it's too late, while creating sorely needed jobs. More than one-third of U. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 52 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.

Uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. Inspire a lifelong connection with wildlife and wild places through our children's publications, products, and activities. But depending on the seasons and availability of food, these can differ. During spring and summertime, skunks will feed on grasshoppers, bees, beetles, beetle larvae, and crickets as well as others from our first list above.

During this time, skunks naturally eat fewer plants and more prey. As winter approaches, when the availability of food reduces, skunks will eat food that is not as fresh and those that even fall to the ground and are easily accessible. This includes fruits and crops that are left rotten or not harvested.

Over this cold season and as a last resort, skunks may occasionally kill poultry to eat their eggs. In fact, during this season skunks will usually eat anything edible they come across if it provides sufficient nourishment.

Help support our efforts for wildlife causes and keep this site working for nature. Amazon also donates to Wild-life related charities! Skunks — Amazing Animals. Beautiful photos are paired with STEM-appropriate text to offer a basic exploration of the appearance, behavior, and habitat of skunks, the musk-spraying mammals. Also included is a story from folklore explaining the unpleasant scent of skunks.

Secret Life of the Skunk. Discover the secret behaviors of a notoriously stinky mammal—the skunk—by following a family as the kits grow from infancy to adulthood. We hope this deep dive into the eating habits of skunks has helped you understand a little more about what these creatures eat.

What to be careful of when leaving food out and perhaps a little more understanding of the world of skunks. This content has been checked and verified by a qualified veterinary practitioner.