Occasionally. Many people don't like to have skunks around because they can spray. In fact, they often do spray cats and dogs that try to attack them. So the smell will be around the house for several days--and especially on the cat or dog. They also dig holes in lawns while digging up grubs to eat. (Actually, grubs are bad for lawns too. So if you have skunks digging holes in your yard, it's usually better to get rid of the grubs first. Then the skunks won't be attracted to your yard.)