Gardeners have experimented with various strategies to keep squirrels away from their plants in the hope that their gardens would remain undisturbed. Mothballs are one of these approaches that may be used. But do moths prevent squirrels from coming near?
Because of the strong smell that mothballs give out, they are an excellent way to keep squirrels away. However, because they are particularly harmful to the environment, you should make every effort to employ natural deterrents rather than relying on artificial ones.
Does the Use of Mothballs Kill Squirrels?
Squirrels strongly dislike mothballs’ smell due to the scent’s unique quality.
Many individuals find that mothballs are the most effective way to ward off squirrels when working inside and outdoors. To keep squirrels away from your home while using these mothballs as a deterrent, just put them in the corners of your home, in plant pots, or in locations where bedded plants are.
Because their fragrance is most effective in more contained areas, you may need to use several of them to prevent squirrels from accessing every part of your garden.
Do Squirrels Like Mothballs?
The fragrance of mothballs is offensive to squirrels, which is one of the reasons why they are an effective tool for keeping squirrels away from flower beds. However, they have the potential to do damage to the surrounding ecosystem.
Will Using Mothballs Keep Squirrels Away from the Attic?
When put in cracks and crevices that squirrels would use to access an attic, mothballs might deter them from doing so. However, you need to take into consideration whether or not the use of mothballs is prohibited in your nation or state.
After a few weeks, the scent of these mothballs will become less noticeable. As a result, it is recommended that you routinely inspect them and replace them if they begin to lose their powerful aroma.
Does the Use of Mothballs Deter Other Insect Pests?
Mothballs are designed to eliminate various pests, such as mice, rats, and even pigeons. Among these pests is the standard house mouse.
On the other hand, many individuals believe that they are not very successful at doing this task and that rather than driving the pests away, they only impart a fresh odour to your garden.
However, their primary function has always been to ward off moths, and research has shown that the volatile compounds released by mothballs may be used to eliminate pests. However, it would be best if you did not do this because of these moths’ many positive effects on the ecosystem.
Are Mothballs Toxic to Squirrels?
Mothballs, along with many other types of creatures, are known to be very poisonous to squirrels.
The unfortunate outcome of a squirrel consuming a mothball because it was misidentified as another kind of food is that the squirrel will die.
A substance known as naphthalene in mothballs is responsible for the product’s poisonous properties. Although some individuals have questioned the efficacy of this chemical as a deterrent, there is no doubt that the chemical included in mothballs is toxic to various creatures.
Does the Use of Mothballs Harm the Environment?
Because of the severe damage that mothballs do to the natural environment, many people have stopped using them in favour of more natural and risk-free approaches to the problem of insect and rodent control.
Because of the large number of creatures that may be eradicated due to their existence, they are very detrimental to the health of the ecosystem.
The destruction of birds, rodents, and insects disrupts the ecosystem and has a detrimental effect on all other animals in the area. Because of this, the expenses of using mothballs exceed the advantages of doing so. They may also affect the flora in the surrounding area if the chemical penetrates through the soil.
Even if squirrels are driving you crazy, it is not worth it to do damage to other forms of animals.
Do You Need a Permit to Use Mothballs?
This is very dependent on the region in which you reside; nevertheless, several areas have outlawed their usage because of the highly damaging impact that mothballs have on the surrounding environment. They also provide a danger to human health, which is one of the reasons why the EU decided to outlaw them in 2008.
In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in charge of regulating mothball use. According to the EPA’s most recent regulations, it is against the law to use mothballs in your garden in the United States.
You should not use mothballs even if you reside in a region where doing so is permitted. Mothballs are most efficient at killing pests rather than just discouraging them, and right now, we need to do all in our power to protect the environment.
What Can Other Smells Be Used as an Alternative to Mothballs?
It is possible that mothballs are not the most significant thing to use when trying to keep squirrels away. Still, happily, there are a variety of odours that are effective at keeping squirrels away:
- Garlic – The pungent odour of garlic (and other plants in the allium family) is enough to discourage squirrels from foraging in your garden. When interplanted with crops that are harvested regularly, garlic performs very well.
- Coffee Grounds – One of the most effective ways to deter squirrels off your property is to use coffee grounds. The used coffee grounds are a waste product produced during the coffee-making process, yet, distributing them in your garden will discourage squirrels while also increasing the quality of your soil.
- Pepper – Black pepper, white pepper, and cayenne pepper are all types of pepper that may deter squirrels from a particular area by simply sprinkling them on the ground.
Summary
So do mothballs dissuade squirrels or not? Because of their pungent odour, mothballs have traditionally been used to deter squirrels and other unwanted animals. Squirrels are among the many species of animals that are adversely affected by the toxicity of mothballs.
Because of the severe damage caused to the natural world when mothballs are used, do not only many individuals avoid doing so, but also many organisations, such as the European Union, have made it illegal.
There are, however, a variety of additional aromas that may be utilised to dissuade squirrels from your flower beds and garden. These include coffee grounds placed on the ground, several types of pepper plants, and garlic plants.