10 Wildlife Deterrents Debunked!
Updated: Apr. 10, 2024
From mothballs to fake owls, bunnies to bats, here are a few wildlife deterrents not worth spending your time and money on.
Does Irish Spring Soap Keep Mice Away?
Probably not. This ongoing internet-fueled rumor stems from the idea mice don’t like strong scents, and thus the particularly perfumy Irish Spring bar soap should keep them at bay.
“While mice do tend to avoid certain scents, if they’re already established in a home, a soap’s scent will probably not convince them to leave,” says Meg Pearson, training manager at Critter Control. This is also true for placing soap under the hood of vehicles, which sometimes works the other way, ending up as a rodent snack.
The best way to keep mice away? Eliminate food, water and shelter, and seal up entry points around your home. DIY or commercial sprays with peppermint essential oils also work decently but need to be reapplied often.
For your vehicle, park it in the garage or leave the hood up at night. If they’re eating your auto wiring, you’ve got several protective sleeve covering options.
Do Mothballs Keep Snakes Away?
Nope. While they do contain the chemical compound naphthalene, also found in snake repellent, no scientific studies have shown them to be effective for repelling snakes.
Worse yet, mothballs are a regulated pesticide that should only be used in tightly closed containers. Otherwise, their toxic fumes can harm people, pets and wildlife. Agencies are even actively urging homeowners to stop using mothballs outside. “It’s not worth the risk,” says Pearson, “especially for a solution that yields little or no results.”
If you’re worried about snakes in your yard, remember that most snakes are not poisonous and actually quite helpful for rodent and insect control. If you still want them gone, work to discourage their food — rodents — by cleaning up debris and feeding your pets inside.
Are Squirrels and Birds Afraid of Fake Owls?
No more than you would be afraid of a plastic bear.
“Animals like woodpeckers may initially be startled, but they quickly understand that this owl is not moving,” says Roger Dickens, technical services manager for Rentokil Terminix. “They will then become conditioned to its appearance on the roof, and return very quickly.”
To better deter woodpeckers, try devices that move in the wind like CDs, pie plates and Mylar tape, because woodpeckers startle with movement and light reflection. If that doesn’t work, try bird netting. As for squirrels, trim back tree limbs that allow access to your structures and seal up any potential entry points into the attic.
Do Marigolds Keep Rabbits From the Garden?
No. On the contrary, some rabbits enjoy them as a snack. But marigolds can deter other pests, like cabbage moths and Mexican bean beetles.
Here’s another popular solution for keeping rabbits from feasting on the spring shoots: Sprinkling ground cayenne pepper or spraying a cayenne solution around the garden and on leaves. This can work for a while, but eventually, rabbits build up a tolerance to the smell and taste.
For the best rabbit deterrent, surround your garden with chicken wire or cloth fencing. Bury it a foot into the ground to keep them from digging underneath, and make it at least two feet tall. “It is a more laborious effort, but much more effective in the long-term than any scent-based deterrent,” says Pearson.
Do Ultrasonic Devices Repel Rodents?
Some might work briefly, but little scientific evidence supports it. The idea for these rodent repellents came about because mice and rats can hear sounds at the ultrasonic level, which humans cannot.
Unfortunately, Dickens says, “Ultrasonic devices might work for a few days, but in the long run, the rodents will become conditioned to the noise and return. This is similar to a person hearing a fan running when it first turns on, but after a few hours of being near one, the sound all but dissolves into the background.”
Furthermore, ultrasonic noises don’t penetrate walls or insulation in areas like the attic. So if you have a rodent issue, best to seal up openings around windows, doors and lines running into your home, and take away food sources.
Do Coffee Grounds Discourage Moles?
Probably not. While there’s some anecdotal evidence from homeowners that it can work, usually moles will just make new tunnels. Beyond being ineffective, the grounds can exacerbate the problem by encouraging a buffet of grubs, making your yard more appealing to moles. Further, in excess, the grounds damage soil by depleting its nitrogen.
If you have moles, first try to learn to accept them. They’re actually beneficial to gardens because they keep down pest populations (especially Japanese beetle grubs), aerate your soil and give you free fertilizer.
If you see a mole tunnel, gently press the soil back with your foot and water to area to help disturbed plant roots. And remember moles are temporary guests. Once they’re done eating the local grubs, they’ll move on. But if you have a particularly valuable plant or tree you’re trying to protect, try wire mole barriers.
Will Bright Lights Keep Bats Away?
Maybe. But using bright lights to keep bats away is a poor idea on many levels.
While bats don’t like light, they do like to eat insects attracted to light, so lights could be counterproductive. It’s also costly and annoying to your neighbors to leave your lights on all night, every night. And it probably won’t deter an established roosting colony.
More importantly, bats are beneficial for insect control. Bats only need mitigation if they’re roosting where they can get into human living quarters or their guano can do damage, such as in attics, walls and chimneys. If you’re worried about bats, start by putting up a bat box to encourage roosting away from the house, and seal up potential entry points into your attic.
Do Garlic, Onions and Vinegar Keeps Raccoon and Opossums Away?
Sometimes, but only temporarily. As with most deterrents, you’ll need to apply them frequently to keep up the potency. Even then, after a while, raccoons and opossums will likely get used to them, says Pearson.
If raccoons are setting up shop in your yard or garden, deter them by getting rid of easy food sources like birdseed and outdoor pet food. Also, securely latch trash cans lids, and get rid of other alluring smells.
As for opossums, trim nearby tree branches and seal entry points, like roof returns and foundation vents, to keep them out of your shed. And don’t forget, opossums are actually great neighbors.
Originally Published: August 31, 2023
