![]() Skunks are generally animals that live in groups. Skunk den How do skunks spend the winter? Areas within properties also provide skunks with an easy hideaway to get away from predators. This is because since these places are often close to heated homes, this can give them the warmth they need. Your garage, deck, and even sheds are ideal spots for skunks to live during the winter. While that’s the case with skunks in rural areas around forests and woodlands, skunks can even spend their winter on your property. It might only be the smell that signals that there’s a nest nearby. Sometimes skunk dens are so discrete that you may have a hard time finding if it’s an old pile of leaves or an actual den. The best examples are places under a pile of leaves and logs. Skunks usually choose spots that are hard to find and which look like nothing out of the ordinary. However, they’re also very picky when it comes to choosing a spot to live during the winter. So they often look for places that have holes or dens left by other animals like old fox dens, woodchuck burrows, and so on.Īlthough they have all the physical ability to create dens using their claws, they prefer taking shelter in abandoned dens or under decks. So, during winter skunks look to live in places that can provide them enough warmth throughout the coldest winter period.īut skunks tend to be lazy when it comes to building their own dens or burrows. Since skunks tend to be active during the winter – although, in a dormant state, they need to keep themselves warm enough to survive through the winter. This helps protect them from the elements outside. When temperatures hit colder lows, a skunk will purposefully block the entryway to its den/burrow with grass, leaves, and other objects. Usually, during winter skunks keep foraging for food until they are snowed in. This also gives them enough energy to step out and resist the cold while foraging for food. This layer of fat gives skunks enough warmth to survive the winter. The extra weight gives skunks build up a layer of fat. They eat as much as they can before winter to increase their weight. But as a means of preparation, all that skunks do is focus on gaining weight. ![]() That’s how squirrels prepare themselves for winter.īut skunks are animals that are more accustomed to going outside and foraging for food during winter if they need it. You might already know that squirrels stockpile food during cold months. So now let’s go into how skunks prepare themselves to survive this cold weather. ![]() ![]() It’s mostly during the night when skunks decide to go out foraging for food. This gives them the strength needed to go out and forage for the food they need. Skunks during these cold days of winter can lower their body temperatures down to about 20 degrees for short periods. Most of the time skunks remain in their cozy dens and will step out when the temperature is above 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Skunks when they enter a dormant stage will remain inactive for only a short period, mostly during the day. This doesn’t mean they become inactive like animals do when they fully hibernate. When skunks enter the dormant state their body temperature lowers, in turn, this slows down their metabolism and breathing. This state is what also makes them avoid falling into a complete state of hibernation. They enter this state when the temperature drops and sources of food become more scarce.ĭuring the dormant state, you could say that skunks are more in a lethargic, dormant sleep – much like a dormouse. A state scientifically called “Torpor” is a state of both mental and physical inactivity. They are one of those animals that you would think do hibernate but in fact, they actually don’t …well, not hibernate as such…ĭuring winter skunks only enter a dormant state. Firstly, you’ll want to get an idea of whether skunks are in your location, so check the general skunk locations here for that and the types of habitat. ![]()
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