They forage for plant life like corn, cherries, grapes and berries , whether or not they are fresh. Skunks prefer food that has already fallen to the ground, making it more accessible, and consequently eat rotting fruits and other crops that humans would not harvest anyway.
What does striped skunks eat?
Skunks are true omnivores, eating everything— rodents, eggs, carrion, insects, grubs, berries, plants, fish , just about anything that is or was once living, including some things even vultures give careful consideration to first. But mainly skunks eat those things we'd like to keep in check—insects and rodents.
What do skunks like to eat the most?
Best Skunk Baits
Although skunks are known to eat opportunistically, they are most attracted to oily, meat-based baits like fish and chicken . They have a strong sense of smell, so anything particularly smelly works best – even peanut butter has been proven to lure in skunks.
What is the diet of a striped and spotted skunk?
Larger insects including beetles and grasshoppers have been found to be an important part of the eastern spotted skunk diet. In addition to insects, spotted and striped skunks will also eat small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, crustaceans, fruits, grasses, fungus and leaves.
Are striped skunks herbivores?
Striped skunks are omnivorous , feasting on insects, small vertebrates, and eggs, as well as vegetable matter. Hog-nosed skunks and stink badgers have elongated snouts adapted to rooting for grubs and other insects in the soil; they too rely on a variety of foods. Spotted skunks are the most carnivorous.
What do skunks hate?
It may seem ironic, but skunks hate certain odors (as if they have room to judge). Citrus, ammonia, mothballs and predator urine (dog, coyote, etc) are three smells that can scare off skunks. If you use mothballs or ammonia-soaked cotton balls, be sure to keep them far away from children.
Can skunks climb?
Although it can climb up wire mesh, fences, and boards , it seldom climbs trees – the long nails are a definite handicap in climbing. The spotted skunk on the other hand, is an excellent climber, able to climb a tree with ease. ... Skunks molt their fur just once a year, starting in April.
What attracts a skunk to your yard?
Skunks are opportunists at heart — they're mainly attracted to low-hanging fruit like garbage and pet food left out at night , as well as convenient denning sites, such as wood and rock piles, elevated sheds, openings under concrete slabs and porches and crawl spaces.
Do coffee grounds repel skunks?
The great smell masks the skunk odor well, especially when combined with the vinegar smell. ... Once you are skunk -proofed, enjoy your coffee grounds after brewing them, and sleep well. Tip: The de-stinking works by the strong coffee smell, so for some strongly aromatic suggestions, see below.
What is the lifespan of a skunk?
The average lifespan of striped skunks in the wild is 7 years . They can live up to 10 years in human care.
Why skunk smells so bad?
The reason skunks smell bad is because of a gland under their tail that produces and sprays their stink . The stinky spray is an oily liquid primarily made up of a substance called thiols, with a sulfur component that is the earmark of the signature skunk odor.
Why are skunks striped?
The Purpose Of The Skunk's Stripe
Self-defense is something that can work in many different ways, and in the case of the skunk species, the purpose of the stripe is to warn other animals including potential predators that this is a skunk , and you shouldn't try to attack it.
What animal eats skunks?
Coyotes, foxes, dogs, bobcats, mountain lions, badgers and big owls can all eat skunks but rarely do. Gehrt's research shows that less than 5 percent of skunk mortality is caused by predators.
Where do skunks go during the day?
Skunks are nocturnal, usually active from early evening through the night. They usually spend their days sleeping in dens , although during the warm months they may bed in vegetation. Dens are usually below ground but may be found in a stream or pond banks, lumber piles, or beneath porches or in crawl spaces.
Are skunks bad to have around?
Skunks do not pose a threat to your home or your lawn . In fact, they actually snack on critters that do. If you can manage the skunk population to keep numbers down, and if the creatures are healthy, a skunk or two in your area can benefit your lawn by keeping property-destroying animal populations at bay.
Are skunks and polecats the same?
So where does this term come from? In reality, a polecat isn't a skunk , but a wild ferret native to Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. Polecats emit a musky odor when threatened, though it's not quite as strong as they of a skunk.
