Do moth balls keep squirrels away?

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.
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Do mothballs scare away squirrels?

Distinctive Smell of Mothballs

Repel squirrels by simply placing mothballs beside your plants or in household problem areas, such as the attic. Replace these mothballs when their smell begins to fade, every few weeks or so.
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What is the best way to repel squirrels?

Natural Squirrel Repellents
  1. Spread predator urine around your garden. ...
  2. Try sprinkling cayenne pepper, ground chili peppers, pepper flakes, and/or garlic pepper on and around your plants when they are ready to bloom. ...
  3. Birds can't taste capsaicin, so add some cayenne pepper to those bird feeders to deter squirrels.
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What smell do squirrels hate the most?

Strong smells are a great way to repel squirrels – certain odors make squirrels wrinkle their noses. They're said to dislike the scent of coffee grounds and peppermint, or you could make up your own recipe with vinegar, garlic and onions or peppermint oil to spray in the garden.
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Do moth balls keep squirrels out of attic?

Any such use is illegal. "A relatively common mistake is placing mothballs in an attic to repel squirrels. This will almost always result in a persistent and noxious odor throughout the home."
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Do Moth Balls Get Rid of Squirrels From the Attic?



How long do 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.
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Does Pine Sol keep squirrels away?

Spray their areas and burrows with 1 cup regular Pinesol per gallon of water. Dilute Tabasco sauce and cayenne pepper in water and spray on plants that are being eaten (a few tsp. of each in about 1 litre of water). Human hair or urine is a strong repellent.
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What do squirrels hate the most?

Squirrels hate the smell of pepper, mint, mothballs, predator urine, skunks, coffee, and cinnamon, among others. Squirrels have an excellent sense of smell, which they use to find food buried up to 1 foot underground and stay away from danger.
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Will mothballs keep squirrels away from bird feeders?

Although they are not chemical-free, mothballs have been proven to work as a powerful squirrel repellant. They don't hurt the squirrels, they just deter them from entering certain areas by using a strong smell that they hate.
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Does Irish Spring soap keep squirrels away?

Squirrels can be one of the trickiest garden pests to deal with. They chomp on flower bulbs and other leaves, dig up your favorite plants, and otherwise love to wreck your garden. Protect it by grating some Irish Spring soap around your plants. Squirrels can't stand the smell of it and will stay away.
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Why do squirrels keep coming back?

Without a doubt, these food and water resources in your yard are one of the reasons squirrels keep coming back. If you do keep food and water out for other animals or birds, try to keep it in a place where only they can reach it. Or, use specific bird feeders that are squirrel-proof.
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How do I get rid of ground squirrels permanently?

Castor oil is an affordable, accessible way to get rid of critters. For best results, mix ¼ cup of castor oil with two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid. Mix two tablespoons of this mix into a gallon of water and spray it anywhere in your yard you have noticed ground squirrel activity.
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Will mothballs keep squirrels out of flower pots?

Take the moth balls, cayenne pepper and tape outside to your garden. If you have a problem with the moth balls being used, you could try just the cayenne pepper in the squirrel repellents to see if this will work.
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Can I put mothballs in my yard?

The fumes from mothballs kill clothes moths, their eggs and larvae that eat natural fibers in indoor storage areas, such as closets, attics and basements. Mothballs are not intended to be used outdoors. The active ingredients can contaminate water and soil, harm wildlife, and contribute to air pollution.
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What is a natural squirrel repellent?

You can repel squirrels using scents they hate such as, capsaicin, white vinegar, peppermint oil, coffee grounds, cinnamon, predator urine, garlic, dryer sheets, Irish Spring Soap, and rosemary. Read on to learn more about what scents you can use to keep squirrels out of your home and garden.
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What animal would eat mothballs?

Mothballs contain a high concentration of insect repellent. 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.
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Do birds eat mothballs?

Scent #8: Mothballs

A mothball or ammonia is a chemical product that repulses the bird species. Simply put a few mothballs in the corners of your garage, porch, and selected spots in your garden and yard. The smell of mothballs will drive the avians away from your property.
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Are mothballs toxic to birds?

Ingestion causes vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite. Seizures and trembling have also been reported. Pet birds have also been poisoned by moth balls when inhaling the fumes. Treatment of the condition involves removal of the exposure and efforts to get the moth ball out of the body.
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What can I put on my bird feeder to keep squirrels off?

A wrap-around squirrel baffle is great for keeping squirrels away from bird feeders. By creating a conical, unstable separation between the pole and the bird feeder, wrap-around baffles deter squirrels from stealing bird seed. Torpedo baffles also keep squirrels away from bird feeders.
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Why does a squirrel keep coming to my house?

1. Food Sources. Animals of all types go where they can safely find food. Squirrels commonly eat nuts, acorns, birdseed, insects, fungi, fruit and vegetables so if you have a bird feeder, nut or fruit tree and vegetable garden, you've probably already attracted squirrels to your property.
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How do you get rid of GREY squirrels?

Try smearing oil or vaseline on the metal pole to prevent them from gripping it – they'll soon give up. Remember, squirrels can leap surprising distances, so site feeders and tables away from fences and other high points that make it possible for them to reach their goal.
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Does human pee keep squirrels away?

Human urine does repel squirrels. It can be used to keep the animals away from certain areas, like a vegetable garden or patch of flowers. Simply pour some urine around the area you want to protect. To reduce the smell and better fertilize your plants, dilute the urine in 10 parts water.
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What does aspirin do to squirrels?

Squirrel Poison

The squirrels can't resist the smell of peanut butter, and once they take the bite, the aspirin starts to poison them. Make sure to check on the locations you placed the bowls within your house after a couple of days and remove any fallen pests that didn't make it outside.
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What to use instead of mothballs?

Here's how to get rid of moths naturally without using mothballs.
  • Always Wash First. Image via Bigstock. ...
  • Cedar Chips. Cedar chips are a natural moth deterrent and a useful alternative for protecting your closet's contents from insects. ...
  • Lavender. ...
  • Cloves. ...
  • Airtight Containers. ...
  • DIY Moth Repellant Spray. ...
  • Clean Up After Pets.
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What happens to moth balls when they 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.
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