Skunks are usually found in rural or nature areas because of the way they look and the spraying they do to protect themselves. But they have also found a place to live in cities and suburbs. The real question is why skunks like living in cities so much. What is it about these places that they like so much?
Plenty of food
One main reason skunks like living in cities is that there is a lot of food there. In cities, there are usually a lot of different kinds of food that are easy to get. Skunks eat a lot of different things because they are greedy omnivores. They can find a wide range of foods in towns and suburbs, such as:
- For skunks, insects are their favourite food, and urban gardens are often full of these little animals. What skunks really like to eat are bugs like grubs, worms, and beetles.
- Small animals: Skunks also eat mice, voles, and shrews, which are small animals. These animals can find cover in cities, which makes them great places for skunks to hunt.
- Fruits and veggies: Skunks will gladly eat fruits and veggies that they find in gardens or trash cans that aren’t locked.
- Human Garbage: Skunks are known to dig through trash cans because they like the smell of old food. This behaviour can sometimes lead to meetings with people that are not wanted.
- Pet Food: Skunks in cities are also interested in eating pet food that has been used up. A lot of people feed their pets outside, which gives skunks an easy meal.
Chances to Get Shelter
Skunks are nocturnal, which means they are most busy at night. During the day, they need safe, quiet places to rest. There are many places in cities where skunks could make their dens, such as
- Porches and Decks: Skunks like to hide under porches, decks, and other similar buildings where they can make a den.
- Sheds and Outbuildings: Skunks can also make dens in sheds and other small outbuildings because they are out of the way.
- Crawl Spaces: Some homes in cities have crawl spaces under them, which allow skunks to live there more easily.
- Along with being nice places to hide, these areas are also safe for skunks from both animals and bad weather.
Low Number of Predators
It’s not common for native predators to be found in many cities and suburbs. Animals that hunt, like wolves, foxes, and big birds of prey, are less common in cities. Skunks feel safer in places where they are less likely to run into natural enemies because their smell glands can scare away or disable potential threats.
An Ecosystem in Balance
Skunks help keep the ecosystem in cities healthy, even though that might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of a healthy environment. By eating bugs and small rodents, they help keep pest numbers in check, which is a very useful job. Their hunting behaviour can also help with trash removal because they eat old food and other organic matter.
In conclusion, skunks like living in cities because they have lots of food, places to hide, and fewer natural enemies. Figuring out why skunks like living in cities can help people who live there and people who plan cities come up with ways to keep people and these unique animals from fighting.
At Skunk Control Barrie, guarantees complete skunk removal using industry-standard methods that have been time-tested on numerous cases before and are approved by the federal and provincial governments.