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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.

It’s very rare that home insurance covers an exterminator. Pest problems aren’t covered under standard home insurance. They’re typically considered ongoing events that could have been prevented, which makes them ineligible. Some insurance companies will specifically ban termite and rodent services because costs can be high. However, a sudden and unstoppable infestation, especially one that resulted because of a sudden event like storm, may be covered. Call your insurance company and ask about the details if you aren’t sure.

You might be tempted to call your local municipality to remove animals from your property, such as a groundhog burrowing in your yard or raccoons getting into your trash cans. However, they typically only remove domestic animals like dogs and cats from properties, or sick and injured wildlife that pose a public safety risk or health threat, such as a rabid animal. They typically do not capture or remove healthy wildlife.

Animal removal professionals have the tools, knowledge, and skills to trap and remove wild animals adequately and humanely. They also can relocate them correctly.

Bug bombs do not typically eradicate a pest infestation completely. The bug bomb chemicals cannot reach into the small cracks and crevices that pests like to live in, so it may not reach every live bug. It’s much more effective to hire a professional pest control company to perform a home fumigation, removing the infestation fully.