If I have to pick the worse yard guest, it is the skunk, no contest. An opossum will knock over your trash and eat some fallen fruit. A skunk will dig a lawn full of cone-shaped holes hunting grubs, and if you surprise it, it will spray something you will smell for days.
That does not make opossums saints, but they get a worse reputation than they deserve. Here is how the two actually compare, and how to handle whichever one you have.
Yard damage, head to head
| Damage Type | Opossum | Skunk |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn holes | Rarely digs | Cone-shaped holes for grubs |
| Garden damage | Eats fallen fruit, some vegetables | Eats grubs, insects, some plants |
| Garbage raiding | Frequent | Occasional |
| Structural damage | May den under decks | May dig under foundations |
| Odor | Musky smell from droppings | Spray odor lingers for days |
The short version: skunks do the real damage, because they dig. Opossums mostly just make a mess.
Virginia opossum. Photo: Cody Pope, CC BY-SA 2.5
Striped skunks. Photo: birdphotos.com, CC BY 3.0
How they behave
- Opossums are nocturnal and non-aggressive. When cornered they hiss or play dead. They do not dig their own dens, they move into one somebody else built. And they run a few degrees cooler than most mammals, which is part of why they rarely carry rabies.
- Skunks are nocturnal and dig for grubs and insects. They spray when threatened, and they will stand their ground if cornered.
Disease risk
- Rabies: skunks are one of the main carriers. Opossums rarely get it.
- Leptospirosis: both can spread it through urine.
- Parasites: both can carry roundworms, fleas, and ticks into the yard.
Neither one is something you want to handle with bare hands, but the skunk is the riskier of the two on the disease front.
What to do about either one
The control playbook is basically the same for both, and it starts with the yard itself:
- Remove the food. Secure trash, pick up fallen fruit, and bring pet food in at night.
- Treat for grubs if skunks are digging, that is what they are after.
- Seal the gaps under decks, porches, and sheds with hardware cloth.
- Keep the yard well lit at night. Both animals prefer darkness and will often move on if a yard is bright.
If it is an opossum and it is not causing real damage, leaving it alone is honestly fine. It eats ticks and carrion and mostly keeps to itself. A skunk digging up your lawn is a different story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Skunks, because they dig holes in the lawn hunting grubs. Opossums eat fallen fruit and some vegetables, but they do not tear up the grass the way skunks do.
They mostly avoid each other. Both are solitary and nocturnal, and while they might compete for food, they rarely interact. You can have both in one yard without a turf war.
Opossums have a pointed face, a hairless tail, and grayish-white fur. Skunks are black with white stripes, a bushy tail, and a heavier body. And skunks smell, even when they have not sprayed.
Skunks. They can spray a dog or cat, causing intense stinging and temporary discomfort, and they are more likely to carry rabies. Opossums are mostly non-aggressive and rarely bite.
Generally, yes. They eat ticks, insects, and carrion and do not dig up your yard. If one is not causing a specific problem, it is fine to leave it be.
