On an engine they have been on there a long time the easiest way I have found is use a pocket knife to get under it and lift it up enough to get a pair of pliers to grab it and work it off with the pliers from there.
Or if you have some pliers with a good strong edge you might be able to grab them without using the knife and twist them a bit to break them free. They come off easier once you get them unstuck from the valve cover. A bit of scratching won't hurt the valve cover just don't gouge a huge scratch through it all the way to the stud.
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