Skunk Evidence of Intrusion-Depressions Under Structures and Woodpiles

If you think you may have skunks in your yard and gardens you may want to consider searching for their home. Look for smooth depressions under woodpiles or porches. These are normally fairly shallow with a depth of three (3) to four (4) inches at the most.

Skunk Evidence of Intrusion-Feeding Holes

Skunks dig for their supper which can leave fairly tell tale evidence of intrusion. If you wake one morning to find several holes within a few yards of each other this could be a fair sign that a skunk has been feeding on your lawn insects. Look for holes that range from one (1) to three (3) inches in diameter with the same range of depth.

Skunk Evidence of Intrusion-Birdfeeder Food Missing

If you fill your bird feeder at night so that you can awake to sweet melody of song birds singing happily in your yard only to find that the feeder has emptied before the sun comes up, this could mean that a skunk has decided to make your bird seed his dinner.

Skunk Evidence of Intrusion-Scat

Because skunks do most of their foraging above ground looking for scat, droppings or excrement, is a good way to determine if you have skunks in your yard. Skunk scat will vary in size with the larger species, the Striped and Hog-nosed having droppings that are about one half inch in diameter and two (2) to four (4) inches long to the smaller sized droppings of the Spotted and Hooded skunks that will be about one quarter inch in diameter and one (1) to two (2) inches in length. When examining the scat it would not be unusual to find undigested particles of hair, seeds, and small insect skeletons and bone fragments from small mammals.

Skunk Evidence of Intrusion-Tracks

Look for tracks of the skunk in soft dirt, mud and snow. These may be found close to feeding areas such as next to your raspberry canes. Skunk tracks look a lot like cat prints but have five (5) toes instead of four (4). Look for tracks that are staggered and almost on top of each other. Note the long claw marks on the image below-this is very distinctive to skunks when comparing to a cat pawprints.

Skunk Evidence of Intrusion-Rolled Back Sod

If find that your sod has been carefully rolled back you could conclude that a skunk has been for a visit. They often roll back the sod to get to those juicy grubs underneath.

Skunk Evidence of Intrusion-Musky Odor

Even if skunks do not spray in your yard, if they use your property as regular pathway or dinner stop you will begin to note a faint musky smell associated with the skunk.

Skunk Evidence of Intrusion-Barking Dogs

Skunks are nocturnal animals and while they aren’t very vocal their presence may alert many animals include neighborhood dogs. If you are hearing barking dogs during the night it may indicate skunk presence in your area.

Skunk Evidence of Intrusion-Torn Logs in the Woodpile

In their quest for juicy insects skunks will tear into partially rotted wood to get to some of the best beetles and borers. If you are noting tares in the logs of your woodpiles or in any logs or limbs laying on the ground this could be evidence of skunk intrusion on your land.

Skunk Evidence of Intrusion-Disturbed Garbage

If you are noticing your trash cans have been raided during the night, it could mean that there are skunks intruding.

Skunk Evidence of Intrusion-Lower Ears of Corn Eaten

Damage to the lower ears of corn without the stalks being knocked down is a sign of skunks in your yard.