Foods That Skunks Eat

Skunks are omnivores and will eat almost anything available to them. In the wild, they dine on a variety of plants and animals including rodents, reptiles, berries, fruits, vegetables, young birds, insects and eggs of ground-nesting birds. In captivity, many skunk owners think it is sufficient to feed the animals commercial dog and cat food. Dog food alone does not offer the variety of nutrients a skunk needs to thrive, and cat food can be harmful to them. Preparing homemade meals consisting of vegetables, protein, grains, oils and fruits with additional supplements each day is recommended by skunk experts.

  1. Commercial Pet Food

    • Most commercial pet foods have too much fat and protein to be healthy for a skunk. Avoid low-quality processed dog foods, which often contain added sugars, high fat and high crude protein. They will cause skunks to become overweight and can lead to poor health. Never feed a skunk cat food as they all contain too much fat and protein. If you must feed your skunk commercial dog food, choose an all-natural, grain-free brand with less than 15 percent fat and less than 25 percent crude protein. Supplement the dog food diet with fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits, grains and oils.

    Protein Choices

    • The best protein sources are cooked chicken or turkey, tofu, cooked fish, live crickets, mealworms, goat milk, cottage cheese, extra lean ground beef (only serve beef a few times a month), ricotta cheese, Swiss cheese and occasionally boiled or poached eggs. An adult skunk only needs a small amount of protein each day; 2 to 3 tbsp. is sufficient. Feed proteins separate and allow to digest before feeding vegetables and fruits to allow for proper absorption.

    Vegetables and Fruits

    • The bulk of the skunk's diet, approximately 1 to 1 1/2 cups a day, should consist of fresh or thawed frozen vegetables. When serving fresh raw vegetables, choose from romaine lettuce, cabbage, bok choy, celery, carrots, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, napa cabbage, yellow squash, egg plant, green peppers, turnips, corn, peas, sugar snap peas, endive, Brussels sprouts, green beans, wax beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers, beets, purple cabbage, alfalfa and bean sprouts. Cooked fresh vegetables that skunks enjoy include yams, acorn squash, butternut squash, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Thawed frozen vegetables can be substituted for fresh. Skunks also enjoy eating fruits, which can replace vegetables occasionally in their diet, including avocados (avoid feeding them the skin or seeds which are toxic), cantaloupe, honeydew melon, watermelon, bananas, strawberries, apples, pears and blueberries. Fruit can also be fed as treats, but avoid overindulging. Fruit is high in sugar, so cut back if your skunk appears to be gaining excess weight.

    Grains &Nuts

    • Your skunk should also be fed 4 tsp. of grains, cereal, bread or nuts a day including raw oats, cooked macaroni, cooked beans, puffed rice or other type of unsweetened cereal, almonds, natural unsweetened peanut or almond butter, soy beans, pasta, brown rice or whole-grain bread. Nuts high in fat are more fattening, so feed less often.

    Oils and Supplements

    • The skunk should have 1/4 tsp. of fish oil, almond oil, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil or flax seed oil a day. Cut back on added fats if the skunk starts getting too heavy. Skunks also require a minimum of 250 mg each of taurine and calcium supplements each day.