Read the package to determine how many of this particular brand of mothball you should use, and place the specified amount among your clothes. ;-). Unless it fills out an application to move in and pay rent, the penalty will be what I deem necessary to remove the unwanted bully resident. But how successful are these materials really, in repelling the furry mammal? Not only will moth balls get rid of rats, they will deter mice, drive squirrels away, turn around armadillos, stop snakes, and chase off raccoons. Make sure to clean up any remnants and store dog and cat food in a tightly sealed container. The best substance to drive away animals is good old mothballs. Amazingly awesome. This may seem hard to do, but its actually not. As the primary ingredient in Animal Repellent, the solids from putrescent whole eggs are responsible for its composition. And then place the container in areas . It should never be used against any species on the protected or endangered list, and its best to avoid using mothballs when you suspect it might come into contact with a protected critter. Thanks! Hi, I live at Vaughan. It is critical to avoid using mothballs or ammonia-soaked cotton balls near children. Skunks are nocturnal and hate light. Termites are repelled by mothsballs, which are made of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Animals in their natural environment should be left aloneunless they are acting abnormally. The smells of ammonia and mothballs are intolerable to them. Maybe, but I've not seen it to be very effective. Make a mixture of 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide (fresher is better), 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of liquid dish soap . I figure either the skunks won't be able to stand the smell OR based on the crazy posts on this thread, at least they might die from cancer!! However, it is illegal to use them in the way you are because mothballs are a potential cause of cancer. The warnings bear repeating. Copyright 2023 Rinse, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3. You might know the smell and fume of naphthalene are strong. Using mothballs and ammonia (in any way) to get rid of raccoons has been shown, time and time again, not to work. In addition to its strong odor, ammonia is toxic in some ways. It is true that a skunk is an animal with a strong sense of smell, and one of the main reasons that some people believe ammonia and mothballs can be an effective repellent is that they have such a strong smell. Each dose should last five days, but no more than that. I really don't care about the smell of naptha inside the shed since its the smell of skunk throughout my yard that is far worse. So my "pest control" will be a .22 gauge rifle or a low power pistol haha. What's the worst possible thing to find in your house? Really Loud Noise Works Too. "Using mothballs falls outside of the Integrated Pest Management concept. Once you discover where the skunk lives, you can fill up its hole with dirt. People might often be disturbed because of moths. Because you cant use mothballs since they contain chemicals. Use air circulation like fans to help drive the air particles away towards an open window. I am rather surprised that your animal control people did not give you more help, although I have found that on occasion you do get someone that just will not. These animals stick so strong that you might not want to keep them around. And that's not from ingesting "poison". As we look back over the history of mothballs, one thing is clear: clothing care matters, and scientists will continue to innovate new ways to preserve and protect our garments. Sorry but that's far to much work and won't get rid of the current varmints. To make an odor control box thats relatively safe, get a small cardboard box and put some balls in it. Time to do something about it. All these animals are always sniffing. The best way to get rid of skunks is to apply your skunk repellent of choice around the entry point of the skunk den. The active ingredient in mothballs is a known carcinogen and the label on the box clearly states that it is illegal to use the product in any manner not stated on the box, and mothballs are meant to be put into closed containers to be most effective and to protect you from exposure to this potential carcinogen. Within a couple of days, skunks will go away from those places. If you want to be certain that the skunks are gone, its best to call an animal removal service to remove the animals for you. Using mothballs in a way not specified by the products label is not only illegal, but can harm others and the environment. The active ingredients cancontaminate water and soil, harm wildlife,and contribute to air pollution. Other chemicals can be used to repel skunks, among other things. Backyard People might often be disturbed because of moths. They are believed to deter skunks because of their strong smell and stinging fumes. This is form the web site I linked above, "Naphthalene is used in the production of phthalic anhydride; it is also used in mothballs. We service over 500 USA locations! They are outdoors, under my shed. Mothballs true claim to fame comes from their usage when storing clothes and other insect-prone items. Mothballs contain naphthalene that has a strong scent and fume. Cut the 24-inch boards into nine pieces: seven at 15 inches long and two at 30 inches long. Additionally, long-term exposure can cause damage to the liver and kidneys, and ingestion will seriously injure children and pets. Skunks are sensitive to smells, and their noses react negatively to them. If skunks are afraid, essential oils, such as peppermint oil, can help them. When mothballs are used properly inside airtight containers, the exposure risk for people and pets is low. Personal experience ! When placed around the perimeter of your property, mothballs can help keep skunks away. Find the source of skunks and use the mothballs there. However, neither substance works very well to deter skunks. They are dangerous substances. According to those that know relocating wild animals is not as humane as it may seem. Skunks sense the smell of mothballs and keep away from the place. Even they will go away if they see mothballs in a place. So, you have to apply mothballs again in that place to keep skunks away. Make a DIY skunk repellent spray with the following common ingredients. Affiliate Disclaimer: Tipsbulletin.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, How to Get Rid of Skunks with DIY Pepper Spray, Best Way to Get Rid of Skunks with Citrus, Getting Rid of a Skunk Den on Your Property, Block Skunks Entry Points with a Barrier, Deter Skunks with Motion-Activated Lights, Privacy Policy GDPR Medical Disclaimer DMCA, 2 cups of chopped citrus peels (lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit), 2 boards measuring 24 inches and 8 feet long, 3 pieces of -inch plywood, 520 inches (1) and 1515 inches (2). Or do the people that package that stuff follow the wild animals around with containers to catch the urine? Read the package to determine how many of this particular brand of mothball you should use, and place the specified amount among your clothes. Skunks cant bear the fume or smell of mothballs for this reason. Do not put them in areas where it will affect your edible vegetation or where ventilation will bring the odors into your house. It's common sense - moth balls are considered a pesticide, and pesticides are poisonous. EPA has classified naphthalene as a Group C, possible human carcinogen. The white balls are thrown inside its hole or close to the skunks hideout. - Humane Wildlife Removal, Tips to keep skunks out of your yard and garden - Humane Wildlife Removal, How to locate and get rid of a dead skunk - Humane Wildlife Removal, What to do with a skunk after you trap it - Humane Wildlife Removal, Is it legal to trap skunks? Well, you have to know the effect of mothballs on skunks. Combine your cayenne pepper powder and water in a standard spray bottle. How To Use Mothballs To Repel Raccoons. Many animals cannot stand the smell and would retreat, at least for a certain period of time. Too skittish to go head-to-head with a persistent skunk? Anyone have any other solutionsor any thoughts on which would be most effective of the two suggestions I have so far? ), Does Citronella Repel Flies? In real fact, the only thing moth balls are primarily good for is killing moth larvae. Ammonia will need to be reapplied often, and its only effective in an enclosed space. Mothballs are effective in deterring skunks. The real solution for getting rid of an armadillo will be to trap and remove the animal if it is already on your property, or to install a good fence to keep them out. However, they leave telltale signs such as digging holes in your lawn and making a meal out of your garden veggies, chicken eggs, compost pile, or garbage can. Install a motion detection sprinkler Skunks aren't that difficult to scare off. Peace. Moreover, keep their confined areas always clean because skunks like dirty areas. If a pet gets sprayed, use this DIY pet shampoo recipe to eliminate the skunk smell. With the door open, place the pin between the bottom of the door and the support board on the frame, ensuring that the string is taut and the platforms back lifts like a ramp. 1. I'm giving it a shot, since I had success with this brand in the past. Skunks will move on if you eliminate their food source. Sorry about your new fragrance.:-}. So, people use mothballs to keep moths away. Because these chemical balls are also toxic to humans and other animals. OKlooks like this skunk forum has been going for years, with a lot of talk @ mothballs & fox urineWe currently have baby skunks living under a storage shed. Use bleach on any items that it wont damage. There are also numerous preventative measures to take so that the skunks wont soon come back to your property. These chemical balls will only prevent and repel skunks. The string should be plenty long so you can stand well back from the trap to avoid getting sprayed when releasing the skunk. - Humane Wildlife Removal, Is it a good idea to poison a skunk? Stop spreading the FEAR. Veggies and Fruits in your garden can act as skunk bait, so try building a fence that surrounds your crops. So most animals will stay away, plus peppers are not carcinogenic. I have a yearly skunk that takes up residence under my shed/shop, a dozen mothballs is enough to drive it out for another year, its ventilated enough so the fumes disperse fairly quickly. Soon after, the famous scientist Michael Faraday, Godfather of modern electromagnetic theory, identified the molecular formula of naphthalene, which further established its notoriety in the scientific community. Find the skunks point of entry and block it off with heavy-duty hardware cloth or another sturdy material. Although bats do not typically attack pets, they can be infected with rabies. Its common for some families to store wedding dresses in mothballs to pass down from generation to generation, for example. This may include covering the entrances with mesh, sheet metal, wood, or concrete. Works great as a deterrent, but when it gets wet the critters come back. A skunk odor is made up of two atoms, each of which contains a hydrogen atom and a sulfur atom. Although it may appear counterintuitive, skunks are sensitive to certain smells (owing to their ability to judge them). The fume released from the mothballs is generally vaporized chemicals. As a result, several kinds of formulated skunk repellants as well as DIY instructions are available in stores for interested buyers. (Read This First! A few cycles and they move. But these chemical balls can also repel skunks. If the animal behaves strangely, it is possible that it is suffering from rabies. When you dont think youre capable of managing it on your own, its perfectly fine to seek professional help. Mix the peppermint oil and water in a clean spray bottle, and apply the solution to plants and other areas with frequent skunk activity or for getting rid of feral cats who like to hang around your home. are all smells that skunks associate with. Then consider the amount of urine that is for sale and question where it comes from. Does Lysol Repel Roaches? You also have to use a limited amount of mothballs to repel skunks. There are scents that act as repellents to opossums, just as with many other animals. 3. Being a pesticide, you should also be well aware of any local or state regulations before attempting to use this method outdoors. To make the homemade skunk trap, cut the concrete form tube to two feet long. See Also: How to Get Rid of a Dead Mouse Smell. I use lots of cayenne powder in my bird seed as a successful deterrent against squirrels and also on top of potting soil when I bring my many flats of bedding plants outside to finish growing. The mothballs emit a poisonous vapor that kills any larvae that may have hitched a ride on your clothing, thereby eliminating the possibility of chewed fabric. This essentially means that the skunks will work to find a way around the stench, and almost always will. Copyright 2020 by Wildlife Removal. some kinda indian pepper flakes @40,000 scoville units.sprinkled them around the garden. baphemet, this particular thread is about using either mothballs or urine to get rid of a skunk, so a discussion about whether using mothballs in this manner is okay is appropriate. Check your gender biases at the door. While moths can be used to keep skunks away, they are not the most effective or natural solution. Theres no need to use toxic repellents to get rid of skunks and keep skunks away from home and garden areas. I had to prop the door open most of the summer to air it out enough to clean it out. Ridiculously simple. STOP GIVING PEOPLE WRONG/STUPID/ILLEGAL ADVICE!!! It is hugely believed to repel a large number of wildlife due to its strong smell. Moreover, mothballs release fume. You put em in they move on out no one gets hurt. They leave behind an odor after being sprayed with skunk repellent to keep them away from you. Raccoon Removal Information & How-To Tips, Squirrel Removal Information & How-To Tips, Opossum Removal Information & How-To Tips, Woodchuck Removal Information & How-To Tips, Flying Squirrel Removal Information & How-To Tips, Chipmunk Removal Information & How-To Tips, Wild Hog Removal Information & How-To Tips, Dead Animal Removal Information & How-To Tips, All About Skunks (appearance, diet, habitat, behavior) - Humane Wildlife Removal, What are the symptoms of a sick skunk?- Humane Wildlife Removal, Tips for getting rid of skunks - Humane Wildlife Removal, What are the steps to trap a skunk? Once the skunk has left, remove the one-way door and block off the opening again to prevent the skunk or any other animals from getting back in. Set up a one-way door at the skunks point of entry. So, you can say that skunks dislike the smell of mothballs. Not only is it ineffective at pushing away skunks. Best solution has been a combination of urine, pepper/onion mix and mothballs. Where ever is their hiding or resting spots I suggest try spraying or sprinkling extremely hot peppers or sauce. Thank you for the info. Worth every penny. Roughly chop the onion and jalapeno pepper and boil for at least 20 minutes. Make a Spray-Proof DIY Skunk Trap. Luckily, there are some things you can do to get rid of Pepe Le Pew: By nature, skunks are skittish, shy creatures, so if one finds its way into your yard, chances are good its got a meal reason to be there: i.e food. Apply the spray to plants and any areas where youve noticed skunk activity. It makes sense to use black pepper as an example. I had to take a tomato bath for the better part of two days. The ammonia will soak the cloth and the fumes will travel through the air. Citrus, ammonia, mothballs, and predator urine (dog, coyote, etc.) If you use ammonia-soaked cotton balls or mothballs, be sure to keep them far away from children. The substances rely on their offensive odors to repel activities of animals, including . The good ol miles Kimball catalog has this solar powered stake that emits sound they don't like and a pretty stout peppermint spray that makes them crazy. When you are sure the skunk is away, you can cover up the entrances to its den. The scent acts as a signal for the skunks. Roadkill can also be a common issue when living near a buy road, and simply removing the corpse (if you can find it) might not get rid of the smell. Skunks will scare off the place if they sense the toxic fume of mothballs. The dryers heat may bake in the skunk smell if it doesnt come out entirely with washing. When the air is exposed to these chemicals, naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene emit extremely strong odors. I am going to try this on gophers & moles. These have several detrimental qualities including a high level of flammability. Your email address will not be published. I am going to apply what I KNOW has worked on bear; 3. This means they cause cancer in lab rats and probably in people. The skunk wont be able to live in the house, but neither will you. Its outdoors and away from people. The neutralizing effect of vinegar can help get rid of the nasty scent. If you can smell the mothball odor, you are breathing in the pesticide. Skunks are an essential part of the natural environment, but at times theyre also a problematic nuisance for homeowners. When the skunk walks onto the platform, its weight causes it to drop and pull the holding pin loose. But before HVAC systems were common, most households looked to natural air flow to regulate temperature inside, which brought with it the increased chance that pests would enjoy valuable clothing for lunch. Actually scares the you know what out of 'em. Has anyone else tried the coyote urine for ridding skunks? This will allow the skunk to exit but not re-enter. So, does urine drive away a skunk? Skunks dont like the smell of mothballs. Make sure you place attractants such as bird seed or pet food near their den or on the property if youre having difficulty convincing them to leave. Just be careful in spring, when the skunk may have babies in her den! Reapply every few days or if it rains. Nothing on Jerry Baked site either. Obviously I have never used them, haha! Finally, other methods of home pest control have outpaced the effectiveness of mothballs, which means that moths and other pests are eliminated before they even make it to the places where you store your clothing. Fast forward to modern times and the reliance on mothballs as a key element of clothing care and preservation has begun to fade, thanks to the proliferation of three luxuries that are easily taken for granted: Thanks to central heat and air conditioning, home windows and doors can remain closed, which reduces the likelihood that moths and their cloth-eating larvae will find their way into your closet. Bury hardware cloth, aluminum sheathing, or quarter-inch stainless steel wire mesh at least two feet deep to prevent skunks from digging under the fence. Because vinegar is an excellent deodorizer, you can store it in a container in a room if you want to use it as a deodorizer. Chronic (long-term) exposure of workers and rodents to naphthalene has been reported to cause cataracts and damage to the retina. Written by Predator Guard Team Image by GuideYourPet https://guideyourpet.com/how-to-get-rid-of-skunks/ Learn how to get rid of skunks with these natural, non-lethal methods. Peppermint essential oil is another effective skunk repellent that is safe for home and garden use.