Insects are the primary invertebrate group in a skunk's diet. Skunks do not have to travel far to find insects; many insects enter the skunk's den, which is made of leaves and grasses. Also, a skunk's claws are able to dig through the ground and rotten logs for insects. Grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, praying mantises and ants are some of the insects skunks eat. Other invertebrates in a skunks diet are crayfish and spiders. The primary time of the year for skunks to eat invertebrates is late spring and summer.
During the late summer and fall months, skunks add vegetation to their diet. Some vegetation items skunks eat in the wild are fruit -- blueberries and black cherries -- and tree seeds. Skunks also pose problems for agricultural fields and urban gardens. While they eat garden pests, skunks will also dig under plants to eat roots and feast on the garden's vegetables; the primary vegetable skunks eat is sweet corn.
Not only do skunks eat adult insects, but they also hunt for insects eggs and larvae. Skunks dine on beetle grubs and the larvae of butterflies and moths. When searching for insect larvae, skunks dig into the earth with their claws. After their search, these mammals leave 3- to 4-inch cylindrical-shaped holes in the ground. During the fall and winter, skunks hunt for reptile and bird eggs. Poultry farmers complain that skunks invade their chicken coops when looking for eggs to eat. Skunks also damage beekeeping colonies since they tear up beehives for bee larvae.
The primary diet staple for skunks in the winter are small mammals. Some mammals in a skunk's diet are mice, rats, voles, rabbits, shrews and squirrels. Skunks also eat carrion, or mammals who are already dead. These black-and-white mammals have 34 teeth, which include four canines towards the front of their mouth. A skunk's canine teeth help skunks rip apart their prey's flesh. In warmer climates, skunks also eat small snakes and amphibians in the fall and winter. Skunks scour through trash cans and pet food for their carnivorous needs when they are in an urban setting.