![]() Skunks may not be visible during the winter, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t living nearby! Skunks frequently use man-made spaces in urbanized areas, such as the spaces beneath decks and houses, as well as those found in woodsheds and basements. It should be cozy, safe, and close to food and water. Skunks will even share a “communal den” with other skunks during the winter months to stay warm by sharing each other’s body heat.Ī skunk will look for or construct a winter den that is in a practical place when it is looking for one. A skunk will, given the option, build a den out of a hollowed-out log, a woodpile, some leaves, or an old den that another animal has left unoccupied. They don’t like to find a winter home in this way, though. Skunks are tunnelers and frequently create small underground dens. Each skunk loses about 30% of its body fat during the winter, so it must put on weight during the summer. When they are unable to go outside and find food, it also serves as an emergency energy reserve. They overeat during the summer and fall to add extra body fat that not only keeps skunks warm during the winter but also covers their entire body. Although it might appear a little gluttonous, their summer feasting helps to get their bodies ready for a long winter with plenty of food. They are opportunistic omnivores and will consume virtually any food, including trash, meat, and vegetation. In addition to a thick fur coat, skunks also prepare for torpor by eating- a lot. Skunks are protected as they snooze through the winter by these two layers of fur, which help to keep the cold out and the warmth in. On the other hand, the undercoat of fur is fluffy and soft and functions as a built-in insulated blanket, keeping them warm all season. For the winter, the upper guard hair, or outer coat, grows in much thicker and longer and is somewhat weather-resistant. For warmth during the winter, skunks, for instance, develop a thick double layer of fur. Skunks still take a lot of precautions to get ready for the long, chilly winter season, despite the fact that they don’t fully hibernate. How Do Skunks Prepare for Their Winter Sleep? Since skunks are not very good climbers, it is best to store them with sealed lids and on a higher shelf. Ensure that you keep these food items safe and secure if you don’t want a skunk to be rustling around in your yard. Many skunks in urban areas will look for unattended pet food left on a porch, along with bird seed and trash that has been left outside. ![]() Skunks also consume small rodents, nuts, berries, and other types of plants. They switch to digging at night to find grubs to eat during the winter.ĭue to these animals’ underground hibernation and preparation for their own springtime metamorphoses, many skunks survive solely on grubs during the winter. However, in the cold, these are much more difficult to locate. Skunks primarily eat insects in the spring and summer when it’s warm outside. Skunks do occasionally leave their cozy dens, though, to go scavenging for food. Skunks sleep throughout the winter, often staying up all night. Skunks will dig burrows under buildings, decks, basements, woodsheds, woodpiles, and any other structure that offers protection from the elements in human-populated areas. They are looking for a place to stay warm and somewhere they can get food and water quickly, both of which are probably on your property. Skunks will look for the most practical places to build their dens. But skunks typically breed in February and March, and the majority of their young, known as kits, are born in April and May. Skunks primarily seek warmth in their dens during the winter. Skunks don’t hibernate, but when the temperature starts to fall, they start to become much more lazier. Animals can spend a few weeks to several months at a time hibernating, depending on the species. Animals that are hibernating don’t eat or drink, and they don’t even get out of bed to use the restroom! By remaining indoors and avoiding inclement weather, they are able to conserve as much energy as possible. Animals that hibernate have significantly reduced heart rates, metabolisms, breathing rates, and body temperatures, which puts them in a deep sleep until spring. ![]() In order to survive the winter’s bitter cold and scarcity of food, some animals hibernate. Do Skunks Come Back to the Same Place Every Year?.Where Do Skunks Live During the Winter?.How Do Skunks Prepare for Their Winter Sleep?.
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