Skunks, mammals belonging to the Mephitidae family, are easily recognized by their striking black and white coloration and their notorious defensive mechanism: the ability to spray a potent, foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands. While their scent is their most well-known characteristic, their diet is also a fascinating aspect of their biology, showcasing their adaptability and opportunistic feeding habits.
Skunk Characteristics
Skunks are low animals, with sizes ranging from 15.6 to 37 inches (40 to 94 cm) in length. Their weight varies from 1.1 lb (0.50 kg) (spotted skunks) to 18 lb (8.2 kg) (hog-nosed skunks). They possess moderately elongated bodies, short, muscular legs, and long front claws, which are essential for digging. While black and white are the most common fur colors, some skunks exhibit brown, grey, or even cream-colored variations. Notably, all skunks, even newborns, have stripes.
Habitat and Behavior
Skunks are crepuscular animals, meaning they are most active during twilight hours. They are generally solitary creatures, except during breeding season or in colder regions, where they may gather in communal dens for warmth. During the day, skunks find shelter in burrows, which they dig using their powerful front claws. Although not true hibernators, skunks enter a dormant stage during winter, remaining inactive and feeding infrequently. They have excellent senses of smell and hearing but poor vision, making them vulnerable to road traffic.
Omnivorous Diet
Skunks are omnivorous, consuming both plant and animal matter. Their diet changes with the seasons and the availability of different food sources. In settled areas, skunks also seek garbage left by humans. Their diet varies significantly by location due to the different available food sources.
Seasonal Variations
- Spring and Summer: Insects, such as beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and larvae, are a primary food source. They also consume fruits, berries, and nuts.
- Autumn and Winter: Their diet shifts towards small mammals like mice, voles, and shrews, as well as carrion and bird eggs.
Specific Food Items
Skunks eat insects, larvae, earthworms, grubs, rodents, lizards, salamanders, frogs, snakes, birds, moles, and eggs. Less often, skunks may be found acting as scavengers, eating bird and rodent carcasses left by cats or other animals. Skunks are one of the primary predators of the honeybee, relying on their thick fur to protect them from stings.
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Skunks as Scavengers
Skunks are notorious scavengers and can often rummage through trash for food. They are particularly attracted to food scraps, pet food, and birdseed left outside. Skunks are also known to dig up gardens for plants, fruits, and vegetables.
Foraging Behavior
Skunks use their long claws to break apart rotting logs to find insects that live within them. They also use those claws to help dig for insects, which leaves behind pits, which are easy signs of foraging. They eat mostly at night, relying on their excellent sense of smell to search for food, despite their poor eyesight.
Skunk Defense Mechanisms
Skunks are notorious for their anal scent glands, which they can use as a defensive weapon. They are similar to, though much more developed than, the glands found in species of the family Mustelidae. Skunks have two glands, one on each side of the anus. These glands produce the skunk's spray, which is a mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals such as thiols (traditionally called mercaptans), which have an offensive odor. Skunks carry just enough for five or six successive sprays - about 15 cm3 - and require up to ten days to produce another supply. Their bold black and white coloration makes their appearance memorable. It is to a skunk's advantage to warn possible predators off without expending scent: black and white aposematic warning coloration aside, threatened skunks will go through an elaborate routine of hisses, foot-stamping, and tail-high deimatic or threat postures before resorting to spraying. Skunks usually do not spray other skunks, except among males in the mating season. Most predators of the Americas, such as wolves, foxes, and badgers, seldom attack skunks, presumably out of fear of being sprayed.
Skunks and Humans
Skunks are common in suburban areas, and domestic dogs are often sprayed by skunks. Pet owners, particularly those of cats, may experience a skunk finding its way into a garage or basement where pet food is kept.
Preventing Skunks at Your House
Taking proactive steps can help minimize the likelihood of attracting these nocturnal scavengers to your property. Here’s a list of steps you can take to help prevent skunks from your home or yard:
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- Secure trash cans and compost bins.
- Store pet food indoors.
- Clean up spilled birdseed.
- Seal up gaps under decks and sheds.
- Install motion-activated sprinklers or lights.
For more severe infestations or professional removal, contacting a wildlife control professional is always best.
Skunk Bites and Rabies
It is rare for a healthy skunk to bite a human, though a tame skunk whose scent glands have been removed (usually on behalf of those who will keep it as a pet) may defend itself by biting. There are, however, a few recorded incidents of skunks biting humans. Skunk bites in humans can result in infection with the rabies virus. Skunks in fact are less prominent than raccoons as vectors of rabies.
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