Many animals avoid skunks because of their scent, but if push comes to shove do coyotes eat skunks?
Coyotes do eat skunks, but they will only eat a skunk if nothing else is available. Skunks spray a noxious liquid when threatened, coyotes have a heightened sense of smell which makes this liquid even more unbearable. If it can, a coyote will eat plant matter to avoid coming into contact with a skunk and being sprayed with the noxious liquid.
In the natural world, predator species survive by hunting prey species. Some animals can be both predator and prey. As they hunt other animals for food they themselves can become prey for a larger predator.
Coyotes are a specie of canine native to America. They are related to the grey wolf, eastern wolf and red wolf. This canine is considerably smaller than the others. Sometimes, coyotes are mistaken for small or medium-sized domestic dogs because of their appearance.
Coyotes have long, bushy tails, pointed ears as well as a narrow pointed face. Their fur varies in colour from light brown to greyish while the fur on their belly is usually white.
Over the last few decades, coyotes have significantly increased in number. They now play the role of “top predator” in most parts of North America.
Table of Contents
Do coyotes eat skunks?
Coyotes are omnivores, they will eat both plants and animals. Coyotes will eat anything they can put into their mouths. They will eat just about anything and everything that comes their way
Coyotes do prey on skunks but a skunk isn’t their preferred meal. Skunks are difficult to successfully attack and kill. One of the risks of attacking a skunk is being soaked in the offensive and pungent liquid it sprays.
Because of the pungent smell, most predators, including coyotes, do not need to encounter these animals often before learning to keep their distance. Skunks have distinctive black and white coats. This makes it very easy for coyotes and other predators/attackers to recognize them and stay away.
If the coyote has a limited or nonexistent choice of food then it will have no other option than to hunt the animal. But this does not happen often because coyotes eat both plant and animal matter. If a coyote can, it won’t risk getting sprayed by a skunk it will rather eat plant matter.
Another reason why a coyote may avoid preying on skunks is that skunks aren’t the safest choice of food for any specie of animal. Skunks can carry and be infected with disease. These include rabies, canine distemper, leptospirosis, intestinal roundworm or canine hepatitis to name a few.
What animals eat skunks?
Most American predators such as foxes, wolves, coyotes and badgers don’t attack skunks out of the fear of being sprayed. When attacked, skunks spray predators with a powerful and very offensive chemical. This is a very effective defence against predators.
That being said, unfortunately for skunks, its most effective defensive mechanism is useless against predators that attack from the sky. Species like the great horned owl and the red-tailed hawk aren’t bothered by skunk spray as they have little or no sense of smell. In fact, they attack, kill, and eat skunks whenever and wherever they find them, be it in wild or in urban areas.
What do coyotes eat?
Coyotes are omnivores, both plants and animals are a part of their diet. Coyotes are hunters as well as scavengers. They will eat anything be it mice, rabbits, squirrels, frogs, cats, lizards, raccoons, fish, fruits, carrion, grasshoppers, and other insects to name a few, click the links to find out more. They typically eat wildlife species but are known to predate on livestock, poultry, garbage, and pets such as cats.
Coyotes have a very developed sense of smell. Their sense of smell is so advanced that they can smell prey moving in and under the snow. This makes them great hunters and deadly to prey. They sometimes eat their prey alive, click here for more information. They can also fight wolves but don’t kill them, read more here.
What is the best skunk repellent?
Skunks may release a pungent-smelling odour but they can also be repelled by a few products as well. It may be difficult to imagine a stench that skunks can’t stand but skunk repellents aren’t necessarily horrible smelling to humans.
Mothballs are one way to get rid of a variety of pests including skunks. Make sure you remove the mothballs after the skunks has left your property. If you prefer something fresher you can use citrus to get rid of skunks. Predator urine is also a great skunk repellent, you can find this in-store or online.
Conclusion:
In theory, yes a coyote can and will eat a skunk. It is fast enough and cunning enough to catch it but skunk isn’t the coyotes preferred choice of food.
Owls and hawks comfortably feed on skunks, they are oblivious the smell of their spray. Coyotes don’t have the luxury of a poor sense of smell, in fact, coyotes have a heightened sense of smell making the skunk scent unbearable.
Yes, coyotes will reluctantly hunt a skunk but only if there is nothing else to eat. This is a worst-case scenario. Coyotes are omnivores and will opt to eat plant matter if no other animal matter is available.