Courtesy Photo A skunk.

As temperatures begin to rise and spring inches closer, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds residents that skunks will be out for an early spring breeding season.

According to the DNR, skunks are opportunistic eaters who will eat from garbage bins or bird feeders and may reside close to a home under decks or wood piles. To prevent any encounters, it’s recommended to remove wood piles, along with bird feeders that spill seed on the ground, and to install barriers under decks and porches.

To learn more about the species, visit michigan.gov/wildlife under the nuisance wildlife section.