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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.

Chemical treatments, bait systems, and physical barriers are common approaches.

While the spotted lanternfly’s favorite place to stay is the trees and plants they gorge on, they can occasionally congregate in large numbers on buildings and other structures. This may be for height, warmth, or other unknown reasons. However, rest assured that the insects do not do any structural damage to the buildings, and will likely move on within a few weeks or perish with the colder weather.

Homes provide a stable environment with ample hiding spots, warmth, and protection from the elements, making them ideal habitats for spiders. The presence of insects within homes serves as a major food source for spiders, enticing them to establish their webs or burrows in and around residential structures. The nooks and crannies of homes provide perfect locations for spiders to construct webs or lay in wait for unsuspecting prey.