Skunks are omnivorous animals, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. As opportunistic eaters, skunks will consume a wide variety of food sources. This leads many to wonder – will a skunk eat bird seed if given the chance?
In short, yes, skunks will eat bird seed if it is readily available to them. However, skunks tend to prefer meatier sources of food when possible. Bird seed alone would not provide adequate nutrition for a skunk over an extended period of time. But skunks are adaptable scavengers and bird seed could become part of their diet, especially in lean times.
Skunk Diet and Foraging
Skunks are omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter. They have a diverse diet that can include insects, rodents, eggs, berries, seeds, nuts, roots, grasses, and fungi. Skunks will scavenge food from a variety of sources.
As opportunistic eaters, skunks will take advantage of whatever food is available in their local habitat. This adaptable diet allows them to survive in a range of environments.
When possible, skunks prefer to eat meat sources such as rodents, insects, eggs, and carrion. However, plant matter makes up a significant portion of their diet as well. Skunks will eat a variety of fruits, seeds, and grasses.
Bird seed could appeal to a skunk as an easy to access source of plant material. While not their preferred food, skunks will eat seeds, grains, and nuts. They have even been known to eat pet food when readily available. Bird seed would simply be another convenient meal for an adaptable skunk.
Nutritional Value of Bird Seed for Skunks
Most bird seed mixes contain a variety of seeds, grains, nuts, dried fruits, and sometimes pelleted food. Common ingredients include millet, cracked corn, sunflower seeds, thistle, safflower, peanuts, raisins, and oats.
Many of these ingredients would appeal to an opportunistic skunk. Sunflower seeds, peanuts, and raisins in particular would be attractive components of bird seed to a foraging skunk.
However, bird seed alone does not provide complete nutrition for skunks over the long term. Skunks require meat protein in their diet to thrive. Most bird seed mixes are predominantly grains and seeds, low in protein.
While skunks will eat bird seed if readily available, it would not be nutritionally suitable as a sole long-term food source. Skunks would need to seek out additional food sources to balance out an all bird seed diet.
Risks of Bird Seed for Skunks
While skunks will eat bird seed, relying too heavily on it could pose some health risks:
- Lack of protein – Bird seed is low in the meat protein sources skunks require.
- Nutritional deficiencies – Bird seed lacks adequate levels of certain vitamins and minerals skunks need.
- High carbohydrate content – The abundance of grains and seeds leads to an imbalanced diet high in carbohydrates.
- Digestive issues – Too much seed could cause gastric distress and other digestive issues.
- Weight gain – Relying solely on energy-dense bird seed could lead to obesity over time.
Bird seed can serve as an occasional supplemental food source for skunks but should not make up the bulk of their diet. Skunks would need to eat other prey and plant material to meet their nutritional needs.
Preventing Skunks from Bird Seed
If skunks helping themselves to bird seed becomes an ongoing problem, there are some steps you can take to deter them:
- Use squirrel-proof bird feeders designed so skunks cannot access the seed.
- Position bird feeders at least 5-6 feet off the ground and away from anything skunks could climb on.
- Install motion sensor lights or sprinklers triggered by skunk movement.
- Clean up any fallen seed from the ground so it’s not as accessible.
- Feed birds only during the day and remove bird feeders at night when skunks are most active.
- Use feeders with weight sensitive perches too light for skunks.
- Put out feeds unappetizing to skunks, like safflower or nyjer seed.
With some adaptive measures, you can discourage skunks from raiding your bird seed. But it’s important to understand their motivation is simply to take advantage of an easy meal, not to intentionally ruin your bird feeding efforts. Prevent access to make bird seed less appealing and convenient for opportunistic skunks.
Will Bird Seed Attract Skunks to My Yard?
Skunks follow their noses in search of food. Any smell of an easy meal will naturally get their attention. So while bird seed could potentially attract skunks, it’s not quite so straightforward. Here are some considerations:
- Bird seed alone is likely not strong-smelling enough to attract skunks from afar.
- However, if skunks are already frequenting your yard, accessible bird seed may keep them coming back.
- Fallen seed under feeders that accumulates can give off stronger odors drawing in skunks.
- Bird feeders may indirectly attract skunks by drawing in other prey like mice and rats.
- Well-maintained bird feeders are less likely to be a skunk magnet.
So while bird seed itself may not be a significant skunk attractant, keeping feeders clean and seed off the ground can help avoid inviting skunks to stick around or become regular visitors.
Do Skunks Eat Birds and Bird Eggs?
Skunks are opportunistic omnivores and will eat a varied animal diet when available, including small birds and eggs. However, birds and eggs do not make up a major part of their regular diet.
Here are some key points on skunks eating birds and eggs:
- Skunks will opportunistically prey on nestlings and eggs if accessible.
- They may raid nests built on or near the ground.
- Skunks will also consume injured, sick, or dead adult birds they find.
- However, skunks do not typically hunt and kill healthy adult birds.
- Birds and eggs comprise a very small portion of their omnivorous diet.
- Small ground nesting species like quail are the most vulnerable to skunks.
- Tree nesting birds and eggs are safer from skunk predation.
So while it’s possible for skunks to prey on accessible eggs and baby birds, they are not a significant threat to adult bird populations. Installing nest boxes in trees or on poles can help protect ground nesting species.
Do Skunks Carry Diseases That Could Spread Through Bird Seed?
Skunks can carry certain diseases that have the potential to spread through contaminated bird seed. However, the chances of disease transmission are quite low when proper precautions are taken.
Here is some background on skunk diseases and bird seed:
- Skunks may occasionally carry fleas infected with plague or tularemia.
- They are not major carriers of rabies compared to other species.
- Digestive parasites like roundworms or tapeworms are more common.
- Transmission requires direct contact with infected skunks or their feces.
- Thorough cooking or roasting reduces disease risks in grains/seeds.
- Most commercial bird seed receives sufficient heat treatment.
- Discarding uneaten seed from the ground further reduces minimal risks.
While contamination is possible, few if any documented cases exist of bird seed transmitting skunk diseases. Removing outdoor feeders at night when skunks are active further minimizes any potential concerns. Properly maintained bird feeders pose very little disease hazard.
Key Points
In summary, here are the key points on skunks eating bird seed:
- Skunks are omnivorous scavengers and will opportunistically eat bird seed.
- They prefer meat protein but will consume fruits, seeds, nuts to supplement their diet.
- Bird seed alone is not nutritionally suitable for skunks long term.
- Eating too much could cause gastric distress and other health issues.
- Well-placed feeders, removing fallen seed, and night removal can deter skunks.
- Skunks pose little threat of disease transmission through bird seed.
While skunks will take advantage of an easy meal from bird feeders if given the chance, proper precautions can reduce contact and contamination risks. Understanding skunk behavior and motives can help implement effective deterrents. Though crafty, skunks play a valuable role in the ecosystem and generally pose little harm to songbirds. With some adaptive measures, birders and skunks can peacefully coexist.
Conclusion
Skunks are opportunistic omnivores and will eat a variety of food items based on availability, including bird seed. While not their preferred diet, they will consume seed, grains, nuts, and fruits to supplement their protein intake. However, a diet solely of bird seed does not provide adequate nutrition for skunks over the long term. Relying too heavily on easily accessible bird feeders could also cause health problems for skunks. While skunks may occasionally eat birds and eggs, they do not actively hunt adult birds. With proper feeder placement and removal of fallen seed, the risks of skunks spreading diseases through bird seed are extremely low. Understanding natural skunk behavior and motives can help birders coexist with these misunderstood creatures. Implementing some adaptive measures keeps bird feeders safely enriching birds rather than inadvertently sustaining skunks.