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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.

Strong scents like peppermint, rosemary, lavender, citronella, and others can repel woodpeckers—as pungent smells can overpower their senses. For that reason, you might consider making a homemade spray with one or a combination of these scents to spritz around areas of your home where woodpeckers frequent.

Drain flies aren’t likely to make you sick and typically aren’t harmful to humans. They don’t bite or sting; however, they can cause allergies. In some individuals, they can also trigger asthma. The main issue with these little bugs is that they’re annoying, unsightly, and unsanitary. Like all flies, they can spread bacteria from garbage or your sewer system.

To help protect local ecosystems, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service urges citizens to educate themselves on how to identify and kill spotted lanternflies, including adults, immatures, and their eggs. It’s also crucial to check vehicles and belongings for the insects before traveling to avoid spreading them to new areas. Lastly, become familiar with your state’s reporting tools, take pictures if possible, and include the location where the picture was taken.