Skunks will eat
almost anything and that includes grubs. Grubs
are larvae, especially that of a beetle. Digging
for grub is a seasonal event. It occurs during
heavy rains and too much watering of the lawn.
During gardening season, skunks will happily
share in the eating of your crops regardless of
the amount of water.
The skunk will only dig on a lawn a shallow
hole, as the grubs are not very deeply located.
The circumference of the hole dug by the skunk
is typically the size of a skunks nose. Which
are only a few inches in diameter.
Skunks will also dig to gain entryway. They will
dig the ground up at a weakened portion under a
homes foundation to gain access. Not being deep
diggers fencing reaching a few inches deep
around the foundation of the home can aid in the
prevention of gaining access.
Skunks are burrowing pests and will burrow into
the ground, a dead log, or piles of leaves to
nest. If inside your home their burrowing can
create damage to you plumbing and/or wiring.
Skunks are not competent climbers and rely
primarily on ground level foods. They have long
claws, which are not retractable and very often
the foods that they pick up are handled by their
claws and present as digging.
There are a number of methods that gardeners and
farmers use as prevention from digging skunks.
One of the highest recommended ways is the use
of light. Because skunks are nocturnal light
will generally chase them away or keep them at
bay. Other methods are the use of citrus fruit
skins strewn around your lawn or predator urine.
Ammonia soaked rags placed throughout the yard
has even been suggested.
If you are protecting a small garden the use of
fencing may be helpful. Again they are not
climbers and they only dig to a small depth.
Make sure your fencing goes under the ground a
few inches.
Applying chicken wire around the foundation of
the house or an outside shed can prevent a skunk
from digging the weaker points of the structure
to get in.
Digging can be prevented and short term.
Remember for grubs it is during a rainy period
and for the foundation or under the porch you
may find that the digging will occur closer to
the winter prior to hibernation. More excessive
digging can occur during reproduction season for
the skunk.
In general the above-mentioned preventative
measures can be applied to other pests. The
steps that you take of a preventative nature
will limit the damage that you will incur.
Protect yourself and your lawn and garden by
finding what steps you can take to prevent
digging on your property by skunks.
Go back to
the How to get rid of
skunks home page.
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