While mothballs are often considered a do-it-yourself home remedy to bat problems due to their strong odor and chemical properties, they are generally ineffective against bats, and their use for this purpose is not recommended due to health and environmental concerns.
Photo - Bat Droppings Piles on Top of Moth Balls.
Attempting to control bats with moth balls is ineffective, illegal and will just put you at risk. Bat Flying in House!
Natural repellents like cinnamon, peppermint, and eucalyptus oils can deter bats due to their strong sense of smell. Apply these oils on potential entry points or use them as a spray around your property.
4. Mothballs sometimes are used illegally to repel pests not listed on labels. Some of these “off-label pests” include: squirrels, skunks, deer, mice, rats, and snakes, among others animals. Use mothballs pesticide products to control the pests listed on the label only!
Using mothballs in a way not specified by the label is not only illegal, but can harm people, pets or the environment.
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.
Mothballs are meant to kill moths, eggs and larvae, but are also used to keep rats, mice and squirrels away. Those containing paradichlorobenzene are safer than mothballs containing naphthalene.
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.
If you are trying to figure out how to get rid of possums, know that they are attracted to many smells you find distasteful, there are some nasty smells that even they hate. These include ammonia and mothballs.
In fact, instead of drawing this list out, let's be clear about what other critters and insects that mothballs frankly do NOT do much for deterrence: Snakes. Mosquitoes. Skunks.
The most basic method is to call for help. Your state department of natural resources may have a biologist willing to remove the bat for you. Another method is to let the bat find its own way out. Open as many windows and doors leading to the outside as possible.
Fact: Bats are afraid of people and avoid them. Bat echolocation is highly sophisticated and enables them to detect obstacles as fine as human hair, therefore easily avoiding your head. If a bat gets close to a human, it's usually because they are curious about insects that are naturally attracted to people.
Ultrasonic Repellers
These devices emit high-frequency sounds that are disturbing to bats but undetectable to humans. They are an effective bat repellent in areas like attics and basements.
They hate certain smells, like eucalyptus, bright lights, and annoying, loud sounds. They also do not like the smell of mothballs because of the ingredient naphthalene, but it is impractical to replenish mothballs since an enormous amount is needed to have any effect and they disintegrate fast and easily.
We prefer to use mentholated topical ointment,. These smells are entirely harmless to bats and pets, but they are very annoying and effective in keeping them away.
If you want to implement a practice to deter bats, putting up bright lights probably won't do the trick. It seems reasonable, as bats will avoid bright lights, but it often exacerbates the problem.
Mothballs are somewhat effective at repelling rats, mice, squirrels, bats, snakes, or other wildlife in outdoor areas. However, mothballs may contaminate soil and water and their use as animal repellants is not appropriate and can be illegal.
Does Vicks Vaporub deter possums? Anecdotal evidence suggests this is effective in the short term, and it won't wash off if you mix it with Vaseline. Possums are known to get used to smells, though, so it might not be a long-term solution.
Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020. No, mothballs and ammonia do not effectively repel opossums. Mothballs, ammonia, and a host of other repellents ultimately fail to scare opossums away for good.
However, mothballs are ineffective in repelling wildlife in outdoor areas such as rats, mice, squirrels, bats, snakes, or other wildlife. Mothballs may contaminate soil and water and their use as animal repellants is not appropriate and can be illegal.
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.
Thoroughly clean clothes that are to be stored, then seal them in plastic bags to minimize the need for mothballs. Wash clothing and bedding that has been stored in mothballs before wearing or using them. Dispose of mothballs with other household hazardous waste.
Mice generally avoid the smell of Pine Sol. The strong scent is unpleasant for them, and they tend to steer clear of areas treated with Pine Sol. While it is not guaranteed that all mice will avoid Pine Sol, it effectively deter most mice from the treated areas.
Dryer sheets do not repel mice. The belief that dryer sheets can repel mice has gained popularity over time, primarily due to the assumption that scent of dryer sheets might deter rodents. However, this is a misconception, and using dryer sheets as a mouse repellent is not a reliable or proven method.
Irish Spring soap is not likely to keep mice away from your house– and the strong fragrances could even be attractive to them. Rats & mice might initially be deterred by the overwhelming odor, but after a while they'll get used to it, and may even take a nibble to test it as food.