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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.

Squirrels have a strong sense of smell and can be deterred by various scents they dislike. Effective options include peppermint oil, rosemary, garlic, cinnamon, white vinegar, coffee grounds, and predator urine. Squirrels also have a strong aversion to capsaicin, the compound that makes chili peppers hot, making capsaicin-based repellents a good choice for protecting specific areas like gardens or bird feeders. For a DIY solution, you can create a garlic and vinegar spray and apply it daily. Additionally, placing strong-smelling items like certain soaps or dryer sheets near where squirrels frequent can also be effective.

Termites are very hard to remove, especially if you don’t work with a professional pest control service or keep up with routine treatments. Queen termites can lay up to thousands of eggs per day, meaning these pests can spread quickly. You may need to combine DIY treatments and professional extermination services to get rid of a termite infestation.

Exterminators use residual insecticides in either liquid or powder form to kill scorpions. These insecticides are applied directly to visible scorpions and their common hideouts and entryways in a home to kill them and prevent future infestation. Exterminators will also use diatomaceous earth at entryways to slowly kill scorpions that enter a home later.