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Skunks spray as a defense mechanism to ward off predators. The active ingredient in their sulfurous, oily musk is n-butyl mercaptan, which evaporates into a powerful and smelly gas. Once the spray hits the skunk’s target, the stench can linger for days, and water and common cleaning kits aren’t enough to wash it away.

If you happen upon a skunk in your yard, try to back away slowly to reduce the chance of them aiming at you. Encouragingly, they don’t use their weapon casually, as it can take up to 10 days for their life-saving weaponry to refill. Paw stamping, hissing, lifting their tail, and arching their back are early signs they feel trapped or under threat and that it’s time to make a careful retreat.

If you’re having trouble with your traps, first examine them for flaws that would allow a squirrel to escape easily, such as loose doors or hinges. It’s also important to consider the location of your trap: Place it in areas with higher squirrel traffic, and make sure it’s on a sturdy surface so it can’t wobble or tip (squirrels aren’t likely to walk in a trap that isn’t stable). Lastly, try changing out your bait—in-shell peanuts or peanut butter often work best.

Sure, they are icky to behold, but are silverfish bad? In terms of illness or injury to humans, the answer is no because they don’t bite or carry disease. However, they can damage household items, including books, wallpaper, certain foods, and clothing, as they love to feed on starchy materials and adhesives. What’s more, their presence often indicates high humidity or moisture issues in the home, which can lead to further pest problems.

There's anecdotal evidence that apple cider vinegar does help to repel mice. But the best way to repel mice is to keep your home scrupulously clean and seal up any obvious entry points. If you already have a mouse infestation, apple cider vinegar won’t get rid of the critters. It’s usually worth the cost of professional pest control to make sure a serious mouse problem is eradicated completely.