Home Gardening Outdoor Gardening 5 Mistakes That Could Be Attracting Skunks to Your Yard Here’s what not to do if you don’t want to see Pepé Le Pew. By Carissa Chesanek Carissa Chesanek Carissa Chesanek is a food, spirits, and lifestyle writer with more than 13 years of experience in the industry. She loves researching new trends, chatting with chefs, mixologists, and home experts about their craft, and creating well-researched, fun copy for her readers. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on June 25, 2024 Close Photo: Beebatch/Getty Images Skunks are kind of cute but that doesn’t necessarily mean you want to find them in your yard. These critters can not only be destructive and tear up your lawn or garden, but they also have that notoriously powerful scent and can carry diseases, which are all good reasons to try to get rid of them. We spoke to a few experts in the area to learn the biggest mistakes we might be making that attract skunks to our yards, plus what we can do to prevent it from happening. 01 of 05 There's 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 ripe food scraps will be a magnet to skunks and other scavengers.” 02 of 05 You're Providing the Perfect Skunk Shelter Your yard may have the perfect shelter for skunks without you even knowing it, explains Meg Pearson, a 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 under wood piles, under decks, in crawlspaces, and under sheds.” 03 of 05 You're Leaving Pet Food Outdoors Leftover pet food can be the ideal snack for a skunk on the prowl, so it’s important to be as mindful as possible. “Feeding pets outdoors will also draw in skunks, possums, and raccoons over time,” says Peters. “Only feed a pet as much as it will eat in one sitting to prevent this.” 04 of 05 You Aren't Locking the Trash Bins Skunks are a lot like raccoons in that they aren’t afraid to rummage through your trash bin to find food, especially when it's easily accessible. “Unsecured trash or open trash bins will also draw in unwanted guests,” says Peters. “It's best to have a can with a secure-fitting lid.” 05 of 05 There's Bird Seed Around Your Bird Feeder Pearson says skunks primarily “eat insects, such as grasshoppers, bees, beetles, larvae, and crickets,” but that doesn’t mean they won’t feast on other options left behind. Besides compost, pet food, and garbage, these hungry critters also love bird seed. “Skunks will eat any bird seed they can find, especially those that fall from a bird feeder in your yard,” says Pearson. “They will also steal from your garden if it is not protected.” Tips on Keeping Skunks Out of Your Yard If you need to feed your pets outdoors, be sure to only include enough for one sitting so there isn’t enough for skunks to scavenge. It’s also important to keep your garbage secure with a lid. Peter also says to “add brown material (leaves or cardboard) to a compost pile that has too much rich food waste present.” Matthew Morrow, Director of Horticulture at NYC Parks, adds that skunks are attracted to gardens and says if “you are experiencing skunks in your garden, healthy sanitary steps and fencing are the best deterrents.” However, Sunny Corrao, Wildlife Unit Engagement Public Coordinator at NYC Parks, explains that having skunks around isn’t all that bad. “Seeing wildlife in your natural spaces is a sign you are creating healthy habitats,” says Corrao. “Skunks may be providing small assistance with pest control. During the growing season, their primary diet includes ground-dwelling insects and other invertebrates." Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit