The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is recognizable by its distinct black and white coloration and is widely known for its potent musk, a defensive spray containing sulfur-based organic compounds called thiols. Skunks primarily manage their daily routines under the cover of darkness. They are mostly nocturnal, but their activity patterns often extend into the hours of twilight.
When Skunks Are Most Active
Skunks are nocturnal (active mainly at night) and crepuscular (active during the twilight periods of dawn and dusk). They generally emerge from their dens shortly after sunset and return before sunrise, spending the bulk of the night foraging. This timing is a strategic adaptation for self-preservation.
Remaining active during low light hours helps skunks avoid large, visually-oriented predators, such as coyotes and domestic dogs. The cover of darkness also provides an advantage against their primary natural threat, the Great Horned Owl, one of the few predators that regularly attacks skunks. Nighttime activity also allows them to take advantage of cooler ambient temperatures, which helps regulate their body temperature while searching for food.
Searching for Food at Night
The nighttime hours allow skunks to exploit their omnivorous diet, which is heavily focused on insects and small invertebrates. Using their highly developed sense of smell, they systematically search for ground-dwelling insect larvae, such as the grubs of Japanese and June beetles. This foraging frequently results in small, conical holes approximately three inches in diameter scattered across lawns.
Equipped with long claws on their front feet, skunks tear apart decaying logs and stumps to access sheltering insects. Beyond invertebrates, their diet includes small rodents, reptiles, eggs, carrion, berries, and nuts. Their opportunistic nature is evident in suburban areas, where they scavenge human food waste from unsecured garbage cans or exposed pet food left outdoors.
Where Skunks Rest During the Day
After foraging, skunks retreat to secure den sites to sleep during the day. These dens serve as protected havens, shielding the animals from predators and the elements. Skunks are adept at repurposing existing structures, often taking over abandoned burrows dug by animals like woodchucks or foxes, or utilizing natural spaces such as hollow logs and rock piles.
In environments near human habitation, they commonly establish dens beneath porches, sheds, or decks, favoring locations that offer seclusion and insulation. During the coldest months, skunks do not truly hibernate but enter a state of torpor, which is a period of reduced metabolic activity and lowered body temperature. Typically from November to March, multiple skunks may engage in communal denning to share body heat and conserve energy.