Do Mothballs Really Keep Animals Away?
Do Mothballs Really Keep Animals Away?
Many homeowners rely on household hacks or false information to deter nuisance wildlife, but does it really work? For example, mothballs are commonly touted as a great way to get rid of raccoons, squirrels, snakes, skunks and other nuisance wildlife that may be causing issues, but there is little scientific evidence that mothballs actually do anything against these critters. Many wildlife repellents available on the market are ineffective, or only effective for a short period of time. The best way to keep animals off your property is to reduce attractants like food sources, seal any potential entry points, and install wildlife barriers around target areas like underneath decks. If you already have wildlife causing problems on your property and you need to get rid of them, contact the experts at Westchester Wildlife today for expert wildlife trapping and removal services at (800) 273-6673!
The Myth of Mothballs
Mothballs are small balls of chemical pesticides that are often used to prevent damage from silverfish, mold, and moth larvae when storing clothes and other fabric materials for long periods of time.
Popular DIY advice and word-of-mouth has led many to believe that the strong odor of mothballs is effective at repelling nuisance wildlife. However, there is little evidence for this. Mothballs may provide a short-term deterrent, but once the critters wisen up, they stop being effective. Mothballs are best used against clothing pests indoors, when they are put outdoors, the dilution caused by weather and the open air can lessen the effect. Mothballs shouldn’t be used outdoors anyways, as they can create health hazards when they contaminate soil and water. Mothballs may also harm non-target wildlife like birds, or pollinators like bees.
Other Common Wildlife Repellent Myths
Besides mothballs, there are a few other common myths about how to repel moths:
- Ammonia-soaked rags: temporary at best, often ignored by raccoons/skunks.
- Ultrasonic devices: inconclusive evidence; some animals adapt quickly
- Predator urine: often ineffective unless refreshed constantly and sourced properly.
- Irish Spring soap, peppermint oil, dryer sheets: mostly anecdotal, rarely backed by data.
What Actually Works?
You might be wondering, “If mothballs, predator urine, and ultrasonic devices aren’t effective, then how DO I keep animals away from my property?” Well, the answer is a combination of exclusion, habitat modification, and professional removal services.
Exclusion is the process of sealing off your home to ensure that critters can’t get inside. Exclusion can include sealing off entry points, installing chimney caps and vent guards, and weatherstripping underneath doors and windows. Crawl space encapsulations and crawl space vent sealing are another form of exclusion.
Habitat modification includes the steps you take to make your property less inviting to wildlife. Sealing trash cans, bringing in pet food at night, trimming vegetation attractive to critters, removing clutter and lawn debris, etc. are all examples of habitat modification.
Professional and humane wildlife removal services including trapping and removal services as well as deterrents can ensure that critters stay away from your property.
Wildlife Exclusion and Deterrents in Westchester
Don’t waste time on mothballs or other ineffective and risky DIY methods to keep raccoons, squirrels, skunks, snakes and more off your property. Instead, contact the experts at Westchester Wildlife for safe, humane wildlife removal, wildlife exclusion, and wildlife deterrents in Westchester at (800) 273-6673!
What Attracts Snakes to Homes in Westchester?
What Attracts Snakes to Homes in Westchester?
Do you have a problem with snakes inside your crawl space, attic, or garage in Westchester? While most snakes in the area aren’t venomous, that doesn’t mean homeowners are ready to let these reptiles into their homes. But what actually attracts snakes to your property? And how can you get rid of them?
Top Reasons Why Snakes Are Attracted to Residential Areas
- Abundant food sources: residential neighborhoods often have large populations of small rodents that snakes prey on, like mice, rats, and chipmunks. Outdoor bird feeders can also attract these rodents to residential areas.
- Shelter and hiding spots: snakes have plenty of places to hide and rest in residential areas, including wood piles, rock crevices, overgrown gardens, crawl spaces, sheds, garages, and gaps underneath decks or porches.
- Moisture and water: residential areas provide sources of water and moisture like bird baths, ponds, leaky garden hoses, and shady, damp areas in mulch beds.
- Yards with minimal activity: yards without pets, yards that aren’t mowed frequently, and yards with low foot traffic offer an undisturbed area where snakes feel safe.
Why Do Snakes Enter Homes?
Snakes will enter the house when they are searching for prey like mice and rats, which is why a snake inside your home is often an indicator of a larger issue with rodents. Snakes will also get inside crawl spaces during the cooler months, as they are attracted to the heat given off by the foundation.
Snakes can enter homes through cracks in the foundation, gaps underneath the garage door, open vents, or entry points created by other wildlife like raccoons and squirrels.
How to Make Your Property Less Inviting to Snakes
You can make your home less inviting to snakes by taking the proper precautions, including:
- Seal all entry points, including gaps and cracks in the foundation and siding. Install weatherstripping around doors and windows.
- Keep the yard clean by removing dead logs, leaf litter, woodpiles, etc. Trimming grass and shrubs near the home can also keep snakes out.
- Limit accumulation of water with proper drainage systems
- Contact a professional like Westchester Wildlife for rodent control services to limit the snake’s food population.
Snake Removal Services in Westchester
If you are seeing snake skins left around your property, or have seen snakes slithering around your garage or porch, don’t panic! Contact the experts at Westchester Wildlife! Our team of snake experts will safely locate and remove all snakes from your property, seal off all the entry points to prevent them from coming back, and institute a rodent control program to make your home even less attractive to snakes in the future. Contact our team to get started today with a FREE estimate at (800) 273-6673!