What animals do mothballs get rid of?

Mothballs are classified as a pesticide and used to control moths, silverfish and other fiber pests in wool and other natural fiber clothing and materials. Mothballs should only be used as specified on the label, and their use is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

What animal would eat mothballs?

Poisoning most commonly occurs when dogs ingest mothballs. Cats are more sensitive to their toxic effects, but dogs are more likely to ingest mothballs due to their curious nature. Long-term exposure to mothball fumes can harm pets and people.

Will mothballs keep animals out of my yard?

Mothballs are not meant to be used as animal repellents and should not be used in ways that allow people or animals to become exposed. To make sure you are keeping your risk low, be sure to follow all label instructions and remember to keep all pesticides out of the reach of children and animals.

Is it illegal to use mothballs to repel animals?

Using mothballs in a way not specified by the label is not only illegal, but can harm people, pets or the environment. Some mothballs for sale may be illegal, which means they were imported without oversight of the product contents or labeling.

Do animals hate the smell of mothballs?

Mothballs are occasionally thrown in gardens and lawns to keep away pets and other animals. However, mothballs are ineffective in repelling wildlife in outdoor areas such as rats, mice, squirrels, bats, snakes, or other wildlife.

What kind of animals do mothballs keep away?

What critters do mothballs repel?

"Often, mothballs are used in these locations to control pests other than clothes moths," Stone said. They include squirrels, skunks, deer, mice, rats, dogs, cats, raccoons, moles, snakes, pigeons and a variety of other animals.

Do raccoons like the smell of mothballs?

Mothballs get rid of all kinds of critters

Raccoons dislike the strong smell of mothballs. Buy a box and scatter them around your property to prevent raccoons from taking up residence.

Why you shouldn't use mothballs?

The chemicals in mothballs can cause reversible health effects that include headaches, nausea, eye and nose irritation, and coughing. Exposure to naphthalene can cause more serious effects, including hemolytic anemia. Naphthalene is also a possible carcinogen.

How long does mothballs last outside?

One mothball in open air takes 3-6 months to dissipate entirely. If you place the mothball underneath clothing or otherwise not in open air, it will take up to 12 months to completely dissipate. The mothball smell stays in your home for months or years after dissipating.

Why are mothballs not used anymore?

Old fashioned moth balls containing naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene were banned in the EU Environmental Protection Agency in 2008 because of their potential risk to human health. Both chemicals can cause ill health by breathing in fumes over time or ingestion which is a serious risk for small children.

What animals do not like the smell of mothballs?

There are commercial repellent products available that contain naphthalene and sulfur and that have labels that do allow their use to repel rodents, snakes, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, bats, woodpeckers, and others.

Do snakes like Moth balls?

Moth balls are common old-time home remedy to keep snakes away, but this old wives' tale doesn't stand the test of science. Mothballs don't repel snakes. Snakes “smell” with their tongues, so methods like mothballs that rely on odors are unlikely to deter them.

What can I put in my yard to keep animals away?

A piece of netting or chicken wire around, or wire cloche over, vulnerable plants can provide effective protection against rabbits, deer, groundhogs, and squirrels. Electric fences around vegetable gardens can exclude most animals, as long as they can't go over or under them.

Are squirrels attracted to mothballs?

Mothballs. The smell of mothballs, which bring back memories of visits to grandmother's house for so many people, is repulsive for squirrels. If you have a squirrel issue within and around your home, you can place mothballs around your flowers or even in areas around the yard, including the attic.

Do Moth balls keep roaches away?

So, do mothballs get rid of roaches? The answer is yes they can. The use of mothballs is one of the most effective and easiest ways to use home remedies to curb a roach infestation. Apart from preventing roach infestations, mothballs also prevent other insects from coming into your home.

Where do you put mothballs outside?

Scatter them around your gardens and flowerbeds to keep cats, dogs, and rodents away. Animals hate the smell!

What happens when mothballs get wet?

Wet mothballs are even more potent than dry ones. And the wetness can be profound, like exposure to water from a flood or leaky pipe, or mild, in the form of high humidity. Either will cause the odor to be more potent and sublimation to be more rapid.

What happens to mothballs when exposed to air?

Mothballs slowly disappear as they turn into gas and mix with the surrounding air. The time it takes a mothball to vaporize depends on many factors, including how many mothballs are present, the amount of air-flow around the mothballs, and the temperature.

Do mothballs keep rats away?

Mothballs repelling mice and rats is a common misconception. Mothballs contain a small amount of naphthalene and can be a deterrent in large quantities, however, they aren't powerful enough to get rid of mice and rodents.

Can the smell of mothballs harm you?

Moth balls contain a toxic chemical, either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Both become a gas when exposed to air and cause that pungent moth ball smell. These gases are irritating to the eyes and lungs and may cause headache, dizziness and nausea. They are both suspected of causing cancer.

Can breathing in mothballs hurt you?

Inhalation of naphthalene may cause skin and eye irritation; gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea; neurologic symptoms, such as confusion, excitement, and convulsions; renal problems, such as acute renal shutdown; and hematologic features, such as icterus and severe anemia ...

Are moth balls toxic to dogs?

What makes mothballs poisonous for dogs? Perhaps the most toxic commonly found mothball ingredient is camphor. Camphor ingestion results in central nervous system poisoning where a dog can become agitated and develop seizures. The signs will occur quickly after ingestion and can be life-threatening.

Do possums like the smell of mothballs?

If you are trying to figure out how to get rid of possums, know that they are attracted to many smells you find distasteful, there are some nasty smells that even they hate. These include ammonia and mothballs.

Does Irish Spring soap keep raccoons away?

Soap the yard

Raccoons use their superb sense of smell to forage for food, and some scents are really effective at keeping them away. The ingredients in Irish Spring soap are generally effective in keeping raccoons and other small mammals out of your yard.

What smell drives away raccoons?

Spices like cinnamon, black pepper or cayenne pepper bother a raccoon's sense of smell, forcing it to relocate to a more livable area. By mixing cayenne pepper and onion in boiling water, you can create a natural raccoon repellant. You can add hot sauce to the mixture, as well.