Mothballs contain a high concentration of insect repellent. Poisoning most commonly occurs when dogs ingest mothballs. Cats are more sensitive to their harmful 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.
The fumes produced by both naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene can be very irritating to the nose, eyes and lungs. Pets who are around mothball fumes may develop red, runny eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, and/or coughing.
Mothball flakes also repel pesky dogs Comment: I found something that will keep dogs out of my yard: mothball flakes. For six months I talked to my neighbors about their dog. The only thing I got out of it was a clean-up job and dead grass. The mothball flakes did the trick and they do not ruin my yard.
“Unfortunately, mothballs are used in these locations to control pests other than clothes moths, including squirrels, skunks, deer, mice, rats, dogs, cats, raccoons, moles, snakes, pigeons and a variety of other animals,” Stock said. “Any such use is illegal and can be harmful to human health.
Another misunderstanding is the use of mothballs in outdoor areas to repel rodents, squirrels, bats, snakes or other wildlife. Mothballs are ineffective for this use and can contaminate soil and water. Using mothballs as animal repellants is not appropriate and can be illegal.
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.
Mothballs are ineffective deterrents of wildlife, and most importantly pose health risks to the inhabitants of a home.
People have developed headaches, nausea, dizziness, and/or vomiting after being exposed to naphthalene vapors. If someone breathes in enough of the vapor or eats a mothball containing naphthalene, they might develop hemolytic anemia.
The strong scent of peppermint is overwhelming to mice. Similarly, essential oils such as eucalyptus oil, bergamot oil, clove oil, and cinnamon oil are potent in keeping mice at bay. One study noted that eucalyptus oil applied once a day was more effective as a rat repellant than once a week.
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.
Dogs dislike strong, pungent smells such as citrus, vinegar, or certain essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus. These scents are often used as natural deterrents to keep dogs away from specific areas or objects. However, it's essential to use them cautiously and avoid overwhelming your dog with unpleasant odors.
Mothballs are commonly thought to repel snakes, but they are not intended to be used this way and have little effect on snakes.
These oils can be toxic if ingested, inhaled, or if they come into contact with your dog's skin. Some oils, like tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and eucalyptus oil, can cause serious health issues in dogs such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and even liver failure if ingested.
Natural alternatives such as cedarwood, lavender sachets, or essential oils offer a pleasant fragrance while effectively repelling moths. These alternatives are safe, non-toxic, and provide safeguarding without compromising indoor air quality.
Despite popular belief, mothballs are not an effective solution for deterring mice. While these pesticide products contain strong smelling substances like naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, their efficacy against rodents is minimal at best.
Staff at PaulB Hardware in Lititz, which serves a large agricultural customer base, recommends a product called Fresh Cab. It can repel rodents for up to 3 months, by using a smell that would be extremely offensive to pests, but smells like air freshener to humans.
But Epsom salt isn't just good for humans! It can also be used to repel rodents due to its acrid smell. Sprinkling Epsom salt onto your trash can lid or around areas where rodents are known to burrow creates a protective boundary that can keep them away.
Squirrels have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find food sources and shelter. 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 bar soap, and rosemary.
Mothball fumes are toxic, carcinogenic, and can cause cataracts. The health effects may or may not be noticed immediately, but some of the damage to your health could be irreversible.
Mothballs contain a high concentration of insect repellent. Poisoning most commonly occurs when dogs ingest mothballs. Cats are more sensitive to their harmful 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.
The chemicals can harm blood cells. Effects may not appear for up to five days after a mothball is eaten. The symptoms of mothball poisoning include: Nausea, vomiting, belly pain and diarrhea.
Using mothballs in a way not specified by the label is not only illegal, but can harm people, pets or the environment.
Irish Spring soap is one of many homemade solutions people use to repel squirrels. While it may work for some, other homemade solutions, like cayenne pepper or vinegar sprays, can also be effective. However, like Irish Spring, these methods often provide only temporary relief.
Scare Them Away
Noise makers like wind chimes, or disposable pie plates and whirligigs, can be used to scare off unwanted visitors. Motion detectors that set alarms or lights work well with night foragers.