What Skunks Eat:
Favorite Foods and How to Reduce Attraction

If you are dealing with a skunk in your yard at night, your skunks diet question is the key to fixing the problem. Skunks show up when food is easy to reach, and your property can quietly turn into a buffet. Once you know what they target, you can remove the attractants that keep them coming back.

For more help, see our What Skunks Eat and How to Reduce Food Attraction guide.

What Skunks Actually Eat in the Wild

Skunks are opportunistic omnivores, so their diet shifts with what is available in their area. They hunt, dig, and forage, and the same backyard can look very different to them from spring to winter.

A flexible omnivore diet

Skunks eat a mix of animal protein and plant foods, depending on season and local habitat. Their strong digging behavior matters because it helps them find grubs, insects, beetle larvae, and other ground-dwelling prey. They also eat fallen fruit, seeds, and tender vegetation when those are accessible.

1. Watch for digging spots in lawns and garden beds, because that usually points to grubs and other soil insects.
2. Treat skunks as foragers, not specialists, so you must reduce all easy food sources, not just one type.

Common foods skunks prefer

Skunks tend to focus on energy-rich, easy-to-catch foods. In many neighborhoods, that means insects and grubs first, then fruit, eggs, and anything human-supplied that is left out.

1. Pick up fallen fruit daily (or as soon as you see it), and store it away from the ground.
2. Remove pet food after feeding, even if it is indoors sometimes, because outdoor bowls are a clear signal.
3. Check for ground insects by looking for soft turf patches and small areas of disturbed soil.

How season and habitat change their menu

Season affects what is easiest to find. In warmer months, insects and grubs are plentiful, and skunks dig more for them. When vegetation is sparse, fruit supply drops, and animal protein like eggs and carrion becomes more important.

1. In spring and summer, prioritize lawn grub control by limiting attractants in the yard, not by baiting skunks.
2. In fall, focus on compost and fallen fruit, since those become a major draw as natural food changes.
3. In winter, protect den areas under decks and sheds, because skunks still look for sheltered cover and scavenging opportunities.

Do Skunks Eat Bugs, Small Animals, and Rodents?

Yes, skunks eat bugs and other backyard pests, and they will take small animals when they can. Your goal is to make your yard less profitable, which means reducing both accessible prey and human food sources.

Insects, grubs, and other backyard pests

Skunks are famous for hunting insects in the top layer of soil. Grubs are a big reason they dig, and their foraging can leave small cone-shaped holes in grass.

1. Reduce lawn insect attractants by keeping grass trimmed and clearing leaf litter where insects hide.
2. If you have recurring digging, target the ground disturbance immediately by repairing turf and removing exposed grubs.
3. Keep mulch and debris tidy near edges of fences, decks, and sheds where foraging starts.

Bird eggs, nestlings, and carrion

Skunks will eat eggs and young birds, especially where nests are accessible. They also scavenge carrion, which is why dead animals and open scraps pull them in.

1. Use sturdy, secured hardware cloth around vulnerable vents and under porches where skunks can access.
2. Remove carcasses and trash that could include food scraps quickly, and keep trash storage closed.
3. Add physical barriers to nesting areas, like closing off pet doors at night if they lead into sheltered spaces.

When skunks hunt mice, voles, or other small animals

Skunks can catch mice, voles, and other small prey, but insects and plant foods often make up a large share of what they find. If rodents are already active, skunks may follow that food chain.

1. Reduce rodent populations by sealing entry points with 1/4-inch hardware cloth (not just caulk or foam).
2. Stop feeding rodents indirectly by keeping birdseed covered and only placing it in feeders designed to prevent ground spillage.
3. Keep outdoor pet food indoors, because it draws rodents and, in turn, skunks.

Foods That Most Often Bring Skunks Into Yards

Skunks do not need much to show up, just a reliable meal and nearby shelter. Remove the easy options and you remove the reason they patrol your property.

Pet food left outdoors

Outdoor bowls are one of the strongest attractants. Once a skunk learns where the food is, it returns on a predictable schedule, especially at night.

1. Bring pet food and water indoors after feeding, and do not leave bowls out overnight.
2. Clean feeding areas with an enzyme cleaner to remove scent residue on steps, porches, and ground.
3. If you must feed outside temporarily, use a covered feeding station and only leave food out for 15-20 minutes.

Fallen fruit, garden produce, and compost

Fruit on the ground is a direct invitation. Compost piles and food scraps also provide a steady supply, especially if they include meat, dairy, or oily foods.

1. Rake or pick up fallen fruit daily, and store it in sealed containers.
2. Cover compost with a secure lid and keep food scraps mixed with dry browns like leaves or shredded paper.
3. Do not add meat or oily leftovers to backyard compost if you have skunks in your area.

Trash, grease, and unsecured bird feeders

Open trash and grease attract skunks because they smell quickly and reach easily. Bird feeders are another common culprit when seed spills onto the ground.

1. Use bins with tight-fitting lids, and rinse greasy containers before disposal.
2. Remove any spilled seed from under feeders each morning.
3. Choose feeders with trays designed to stop ground scatter, or relocate them farther from doors and crawl-space openings.

How to Tell a Skunk Has Been Feeding Nearby

Skunks leave clues that help you distinguish them from raccoons or other night visitors. Look for consistent patterns around lawns, bins, and sheltered edges of your property.

Small cone-shaped holes in lawns

Skunks dig with a distinctive style that can create small cone-shaped holes as they pull up grubs and insects. Patches of disturbed turf appear where they focus their search.

1. Walk the yard in daylight and note the locations of the holes, especially along fence lines and near porch steps.
2. If the digging repeats the same spots for several nights, treat it as an active feeding area.
3. Re-seed or repair damaged turf after you remove the attractants that caused the digging.

Overturned bins and scattered debris

When food is inside unsecured containers, skunks may tip bins, scatter contents, or pull trash toward access points. You can also find food scraps near the path they use from hiding spots.

1. Check the time window, most skunks feed at night, so inspect early in the morning.
2. Look for smears around lids or at latch areas, as that suggests repeated attempts.
3. Tighten latches and add bungee straps or locking mechanisms for any containers that sit outside.

Tracks, digging, and nighttime activity patterns

Tracks show up on soft soil and dusty areas, and activity clusters around the same travel route. Skunks often move between a den area, a feeding spot, and a water source.

1. Use a flashlight and compare tracks, skunk tracks show five toes on each front and hind foot with a distinct center drag line.
2. Place a trail camera facing the travel path (not the den) to confirm the animal is active at night.
3. If you see repeated routes, focus prevention on those exact routes instead of trying random spot fixes.

How to Reduce Attraction Around Your Home

The fastest way to stop skunks is to cut off food and remove easy hiding spots. Focus on your yard’s routines, because that is where the problem repeats.

Remove easy food sources

Start by removing what is easiest to access. This reduces the incentive for skunks to keep patrolling your property.

1. Pick up pet food immediately after feeding and do not leave bowls outside.
2. Clean up fallen fruit and garden scraps daily, even if only a small amount is on the ground.
3. Remove accessible insects by reducing tall grass and clearing under-deck clutter where prey can hide.

Secure garbage, pet food, and compost

Sealing gaps and locking down containers prevents skunks from learning a reliable feeding routine. Odor control matters, but physical barriers matter more.

1. Store garbage in sealed, lidded bins and keep them at least 10 feet from deck steps and any crawl-space openings.
2. Keep compost secured with a lid, and add dry browns to cover scraps quickly.
3. Place pet food indoors, and store bags of animal feed in sealed containers.

Protect lawns, gardens, and bird feeders

Your goal is to stop the two big attractants, food on the ground and access to sheltered areas. Use barriers that prevent skunks from reaching the site.

1. Put birdseed in covered feeders designed to minimize spill, then sweep the area under feeders each morning.
2. Use fencing or netting to protect raised beds and avoid leaving produce within reach.
3. Reduce hiding spots by clearing brush piles, stacking wood off the ground, and keeping areas under decks tidy.

Long-Term Skunk Control and When to Call a Pro

If skunks are established, prevention alone can take time. Long-term control focuses on safe exclusion, denying access, and using a pro when a den is involved.

Seal den entry points after confirming no animals are inside

Do not seal openings while a skunk is inside, because trapped animals can die and create odor, and it increases risk. Wait until you confirm the den is empty.

1. Identify likely den openings under decks, sheds, or porches by observing traffic at night.
2. Confirm no animals are present by watching activity and checking at consistent times, before any sealing.
3. After the area is empty, seal gaps 1/2 inch or larger using 1/4-inch hardware cloth, and secure it to framing so it cannot be pushed loose.

Use humane exclusion and deterrent methods

Deterrents work best when paired with food removal and physical prevention. Use methods that encourage skunks to move on without harming them.

1. Install one-way exclusion devices on openings after confirming the den is not occupied, so animals can exit but not re-enter.
2. Keep lights and motion-activated sprinklers aimed at entry areas to disrupt nighttime visits.
3. Use fencing where feasible to block access to specific feeding and nesting areas, especially if skunks repeatedly return to the same route.

Call wildlife control for repeated visits or denning

If you keep seeing skunks, or you suspect active denning, wildlife control is the safest next step. Pros can handle inspection, exclusion timing, and follow-up.

1. Call wildlife control if you find multiple digging sites, repeated nighttime visits, or you see babies.
2. Use a local licensed provider when a den is suspected under a structure, because access and exclusion require careful technique.
3. Ask what process they use for confirming den status, exclusion, and long-term prevention so you can maintain the results.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a skunk’s favorite food?

Skunks are opportunistic omnivores, but they commonly favor insects, grubs, fruit, eggs, and easy human food sources like pet food or garbage when available. If your yard offers steady calories, like birdseed on the ground, ripe fallen fruit, or open trash, skunks prioritize those because they require less hunting.

Do skunks eat mice or rats?

Yes, skunks may eat mice, voles, and other small animals if they find them, but insects and plant foods usually make up a bigger part of their diet. If rodents are active around your home, you can see skunks more frequently, because they follow the same food chain.

What attracts skunks to a yard the most?

The biggest attractants are accessible food and shelter: pet food, fallen fruit, compost, open trash, grubs in the lawn, and potential den sites under decks or sheds. If these resources stay available night after night, skunks build a routine around your property.

How can I stop skunks from coming back?

Remove food sources, keep garbage sealed, bring pet food indoors, clean up fallen fruit, protect compost, and reduce hiding places around the property. Prevention works best when you address both feeding areas and den access points, not just one problem spot.

Do skunks eat bugs in the lawn?

Yes. Skunks often dig for grubs and insects, which can leave small holes or patches of disturbed turf in the yard. If you notice repeated digging in the same areas, focus on cutting off the attractants that support the insects and making the lawn less appealing.