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Skunks are pretty cute, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you want to find them in your yard. Not only can these bugs be destructive and destroy your lawn or garden, but they also have that notoriously powerful odor and can transmit diseases, all good reasons to try to get rid of them.
We spoke to some experts in the area to learn the biggest mistakes we could be making that attract skunks to our yards, plus what we can do to prevent this from happening.
There is too much food waste in your compost
“Skunks are opportunistic omnivores and prone to scavenging,” says Thomas Peters, Serenbe’s director of landscape and horticulture. “An unbalanced compost pile containing mature food scraps will be a magnet for skunks and other scavengers.”
You are providing the perfect shelter for skunks
Your yard may have the perfect haven for skunks without you knowing it, explains Meg Pearson, training manager at Critter Control. “The main requirement for nesting is to be hidden,” she says. “Skunks try to avoid encounters with humans and potential predators. Skunks also nest to stay warm, give birth, and raise their young. Common skunk dens on your property are found under wood piles, under decks, in crawl spaces, and under sheds.”
You are leaving pet food outdoors.
Leftover pet food can be the ideal snack for a lurking skunk, so it’s important to be as aware as possible. “Feeding pets outdoors will also attract skunks, opossums, and raccoons over time,” Peters says. “Only feed a pet as much as it can eat at one time to avoid this.”
You’re not closing the trash cans.
Skunks are a lot like raccoons in that they are not afraid to rummage through your trash bin to find food, especially when it is easily accessible. “Unsecured trash or open trash containers will also attract unwanted guests,” says Peters. “It’s best to have a can with a tight-fitting lid.”
There is birdseed around your bird feeder
Pearson says skunks “primarily eat insects, such as grasshoppers, bees, beetles, grubs, and crickets,” but that doesn’t mean they won’t feast on other options left to them. In addition to compost, pet food, and garbage, these hungry critters also love bird seed.
“Skunks will eat any birdseed they find, especially those that fall from a bird feeder in your yard,” Pearson says. “They will also rob you in your garden if it is not protected.”
Tips to Keep Skunks Out of Your Yard
If you need to feed your pets outdoors, be sure to include only enough for a single session, so there isn’t enough for the skunks to scavenge. It’s also important to keep trash secure with a lid. Peter also recommends “adding brown material (leaves or cardboard) to a compost pile that has too much rich food waste present.”
Matthew Morrow, director of horticulture for NYC Parks, adds that skunks are attracted to gardens and says that if “you have skunks in your garden, healthy sanitation measures and fencing are the best deterrents.”
However, Sunny Corrao, public engagement coordinator for the NYC Parks Wildlife Unit, explains that having skunks around isn’t so bad. “Seeing wildlife in your natural spaces is a sign that you are creating healthy habitats,” says Ella Corrao. “The skunks may be providing a little help in pest control. During the growing season, its main diet includes terrestrial insects and other invertebrates.”
