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Anecdotal evidence suggests coffee grounds can keep chipmunks away. Sprinkle them throughout your garden, yard, and plants to help deter them. As an added bonus, coffee grounds can help keep the slugs away, and they’re great for acid-loving plants such as hydrangeas, azaleas, and rhododendrons.

Some stores sell smoke bombs to drive animals out of spaces, but we don’t recommend you use them, especially in an attic. The smoke can be toxic to humans or pets that may accidentally inhale it. Meanwhile, critters can easily escape the smoke by temporarily leaving the attic, only to return via their usual entry points after the smoke clears.

One scorpion sighting doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an infestation, but finding a scorpion in your home should always be taken seriously. Don’t panic, though, as that will only make the situation more stressful, and you may act irrationally out of fear. Most scorpions have extremely painful stings that cause swelling and redness, but they’re not life-threatening.

However, while not all species are dangerous, the Arizona bark scorpion, which is common in the southwest U.S., is highly venomous and potentially deadly to humans. Never attempt DIY removal if you suspect it may be the Arizona bark scorpion—instead, contact a pest control professional immediately for safe, effective scorpion removal

Tree sap is not usually dangerous to humans or pets. But some trees do produce dangerous sap. Notably, ash, birch, cedar and similar saps can irritate the skin but aren’t dangerous. Sap from trees like the Brazilwood, Mahogany, Milky Mangrove or well-named Poison Walnut can be corrosive, cause nausea, or trigger those with asthma. But for most backyard trees, protective equipment like a sturdy pair of gloves should be fine.