WESTCHESTER COUNTY #
WESTCHESTER COUNTY #
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!
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.
Besides mothballs, there are a few other common myths about how to repel moths:
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.
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!
Toll Free: 800.273.6673
Phone: (914) 760-5713
PO Box 579 Brewster,
NY 10509 USA
* Westchester Wildlife, LLC is not affiliated with the County. All services are fee based.
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