With their gentle nature, however, skunks can spend the winter in groups of a dozen or more. During cold snaps and harsh weather, they stay in their dens. Skunks build dens in almost the same areas, but do not climb into trees. Photo credit: David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Lifespan for these masked troublemakers is usually two to three years, but some can live up to 12 years. When temperatures and weather improve, they will be looking for whatever can be found. When the weather is bad, they stay in their dens and sleep lightly. They may be alone or a female may be with the current year’s almost fully grown babies. They spend the winter in places like hollow trees, woodchuck burrows, abandoned buildings and rock crevices. Raccoons are the largest and the best suited to surviving. As evidenced by the last month’s weather, Michigan can be a difficult place to spend the winter outside. None stockpile food in preparation for the winter’s meager pickings. This includes earthworms, insects, bird eggs, nestling birds and smaller animals like rodents.īut what happens to these critters during the winter? None hibernate or migrate to a better climate. All three are classified as omnivores that will eat whatever comes their way or whatever they can capture. The raccoon and skunk will root around in the lawn in the spring and fall, looking for earthworms and grubs. This trio will be delighted to get into unsecured garbage containers or pet food.
All of these critters will take advantage of a lovely landscape that produces nuts, berries and fruits, as well as the fallout from a bird feeder.
They may see prints in damp soil to indicate a midnight snack run. During three seasons of the year, many gardeners are aware of raccoons, skunks and opossums wandering through their yards from dusk until dawn.
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