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Notably, earwigs, centipedes, and spiders all enjoy a silverfish lunch. You can’t turn to natural predators to fix your silverfish problem: In fact, one issue with silverfish is that they can bring in unwanted earwigs into the house or cause a minor infestation of hungry spiders, so it’s important to get rid of them as soon as possible.

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.

Not only are mice clever, they are also adept at squeezing in tiny cracks to get into your home. Figuring out how rodents are getting in is key to getting rid of mice quickly and humanely. Check these areas for entry points:

• Basement or crawl space

• The garage 

• Gaps in the foundation

• The roof or attic

• Underneath and around pipes, drains, electrical wiring, and gas lines

• Around doors and windows

• Baseboards

• Kitchen cabinets

• Behind appliances

• Air vents

The time it takes for termites to damage a house varies, but it generally does not happen within days or weeks. Significant structural damage typically takes several months or years to occur, with serious damage often taking 3 to 8 years. The rate of destruction depends on factors like the termite colony's size and maturity, the type of wood they are feeding on, and local conditions. It can take 3 to 5 years for damage to become visible and 5 to 6 years for the home's structural integrity to be compromised. However, some species, such as Subterranean termites, are more destructive and can cause extensive damage in as little as 2 years. Because of this risk, it is important to treat your home as soon as you notice any signs of termites.