Get matched with top pest control specialists in Hoback Junction, WY

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.

Voles are pretty prolific breeders, managing to squeeze in 5 to 10 litters a year, and each litter usually has around 3 to 5 little ones. These furry creatures are flexible with their love lives, as they can breed all year round, though spring and summer are their prime times. If they're living it up in warmer areas, voles don't take a break and keep reproducing non-stop.

One scorpion sighting doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an infestation, but finding a scorpion in your home should always be taken seriously. Don’t panic, though, as that will only make the situation more stressful, and you may act irrationally out of fear. Most scorpions have extremely painful stings that cause swelling and redness, but they’re not life-threatening.

However, while not all species are dangerous, the Arizona bark scorpion, which is common in the southwest U.S., is highly venomous and potentially deadly to humans. Never attempt DIY removal if you suspect it may be the Arizona bark scorpion—instead, contact a pest control professional immediately for safe, effective scorpion removal

If your house is full of things that attract spiders, you’re more likely to have a population explosion. When you have lots of cracks leading to warm, secure spots in your home, why wouldn’t they want to come in? Especially if your home has plenty of other meal-ticket insects, like flies, roaches, and fleas. Sealing up obvious cracks and gaps and keeping your house bug-free makes it a less appealing place for spiders.