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Skunks like to forage for grubs in the soil, like worms and insects, but they are also tempted by trash and pet food bowls, so keeping these items out of sight may help keep skunks away. Skunks also like to set up a den in dark places, such as a crawl space or outbuilding.

Whether you, your dog, or your cat has been sprayed, Poison Control recommends using a solution of 1 quart of 3% (household strength) hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of baking soda, and 1 teaspoonful of liquid dish detergent mixed together and immediately applied to the sprayed fur or skin to get rid of skunk smell. After leaving it on for five minutes, rinse with water. If your eyes get sprayed, rinse for at least 15 minutes with room-temperature water.

Luckily, skunks aren’t challenging to get rid of. You can try to remove them slowly by filling their den entryway loosely with newspaper. Many skunks notice their den is in jeopardy and take off on their own. You can also try making a homemade spray of jalapeno pepper, yellow onion, and cayenne pepper—believe it or not, skunks are sensitive to these smells, so if you spray this around the den or in hard-to-reach places around your property, most skunks will take the hint and leave. 

Moles live underground and feed on insects. They dig and move through tunnels, usually in meadows or forests but sometimes in lawns and gardens. They are about 6 inches long with large claws, tiny eyes, and hidden ears. 

Shrews do not dig their own tunnels but will use other animals’ tunnels, and are about 3 to 4 inches long. They look similar to mice and feed on insects.

Voles are similar in size to moles but have large eyes and small but visible ears. Rather than eating insects, voles are herbivores that prefer seeds, grasses, and plant roots.