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Skunks like to forage for grubs in the soil, like worms and insects, but they are also tempted by trash and pet food bowls, so keeping these items out of sight may help keep skunks away. Skunks also like to set up a den in dark places, such as a crawl space or outbuilding.

Trapping should be a last resort for getting rid of armadillos from your yard. To reduce the chance of damage, try exclusion techniques, habitat modification, and removal of attractants. No repellents are proven effective against armadillos. Instead, consider fencing, sealing burrow holes, and clearing debris and overgrown shrubs that act as hiding spots. You should also remove easy-to-access food sources, such as fallen fruit.

Luckily, skunks aren’t challenging to get rid of. You can try to remove them slowly by filling their den entryway loosely with newspaper. Many skunks notice their den is in jeopardy and take off on their own. You can also try making a homemade spray of jalapeno pepper, yellow onion, and cayenne pepper—believe it or not, skunks are sensitive to these smells, so if you spray this around the den or in hard-to-reach places around your property, most skunks will take the hint and leave. 

It can be difficult to know what type of animal is in your attic until you see it. But several clues can help you narrow down the suspects:

• Sounds: Smaller animals like rats and mice make scurrying and tapping/gnawing sounds. Larger animals like raccoons and opossums make louder clambering noises. Also, note when animals are noisy: Squirrels are active during the day, while rats are busiest at night.

• Droppings: Rats and mice leave small, rice-shaped droppings (the rat’s version is significantly larger). Bigger droppings belong to larger critters like raccoons. As long as you’re not squeamish, an image search can help you identify what you’re seeing in your attic.

When in doubt, take photos of damage or other evidence and show them to an experienced pest control pro.