Your email address will not be published. All material on this blog is copyrighted. Exposure to gas from mothballs can lead to headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, eye and nose irritation, and coughing. My daughter has a snake in her trailer and she did put out moth balls in an attempt to get rid of it. NO! Apparently, they smell like cucumbers, scented candles, and or even hair shampoo. But having that mothball smell is not pleasant for us humans either. Soak the items in equal parts water and vinegar or add a cup (240 mL) of vinegar to the wash cycle. Be cautious, though, as mothball scent can also be highly bothersome to people. Mothballs are also used to repel snakes, mice, and other animals, though this use is not recommended and can be harmful to pets, children, and the environment. The mixture can be applied outside around your yard, garden and other areas that you may not want snakes to be. WHAT I DO know is that i have been putting moth balls around my koi pond and garden perimeter for over 20 yrs, and it keeps them away pretty well, in the spring, when it starts warming up and before i get the moth balls out, some snakes will go in the pond to go after the tadpoles and small frogs.. once i get the moth balls set out,, i no longer see this happening and i only see a snake far away from where i have placed moth balls, i a mthinking this ‘advie’ to not use them is a combo of several things– one, to try and force a normalization and acceptance of snakes around your house even if you dont want them. Of course, a key reason snakes come inside is because they are hunting food – that is field mice/house mice around or in the house – so managing mice is key to managing snakes in the house, it seems. Therefore, if you place mothballs about a space, snakes will avoid the odor, and consequently, the area. Cats are more … You laid it out in a circle. Seal off all cracks and holes into your crawl space or basement. So, if you don’t want to encounter snakes, you may want to reconsider putting out mulch or pine straw.? Place mothballs in holes, cracks, crevices, or any other areas around your property where snakes may be a problem. The smell of mothballs is known to keep moths from invading homes and consuming stored items such as clothing and bedding. (by the way you use 10 to 25 mothballs or more no less). Thank you so much for your help. Just because you cannot use ammonia or mothballs does not mean that there are not better choices out there that are effective and pose little to no risk to your family and your pets. We believe that generations of snakes may have found a home in or near the house. Whatever the havoc, mothballs are not the answer—and are in fact highly toxic, and illegal for garden use. The active ingredients in mothballs are pesticides, and relatively dangerous ones at that . Furthermore, their solubility means that the harmful substances are easily absorbed by the soil and can, therefore, contaminate it for prolonged periods of time. It is also never a good idea to leave any sort of pesticide lying around where children might find it. Heloise suggests using baking soda and newspapers to soak up the odor. However, if the presence of snakes makes you feel uncomfortable, there are surefire ways of dealing with this menace. There are two types of mothballs on the market. Also, the toxic vapors can seep up into the living spaces, sickening all of the people inside.”. Sealing any cracks to prevent snakes from entering buildings. IARC classifies naphthalene as possibly carcinogenic to humans and other animals (see also Group 2B). Currently, most mothballs are made of paradichlorobenzene, however, they can also be made of naphthalene or camphor. Naphthalene is the more toxic of the two chemicals. “He crawled over the mothballs and got the mouse,” Vandeventer said. no place like lowes or walmart would continue to carry a product that did not work. Among the possible side effects are headaches, nausea, dizziness, and irritation of the eyes and lungs. "There's commercial snake repellents," said herpetologist Terry Vandeventer with the Living Reptile Museum. Snakes are seasonal in most places. … Mothballs don’t repel snakes. (One part per billion is about several drops of water in an Olympic-size swimming pool.) Installing a wire mesh wire fence that is buried a few feet into the ground is an effective means of achieving this since snakes cannot climb over tall barriers. Don’t worry, there are safer more effective methods for keeping snakes away from your house and garden. This myth is probably being shared by coaxing salespeople who want to sell their products to uninformed customers. 1 repellent in the South is mothballs. Do mothballs really keep snakes away? The idea is that snakes can’t stand the smell of moth balls. When a solution containing mothball chemicals touches grass, flowers, or other herbaceous plants, they start to wither almost immediately. Swallowing or even breathing of ammonia liquid may likely result to poisoning. If you can smell the mothball odor, you are breathing in the pesticide. If you can eliminate the food source, the snakes will go elsewhere. Alternatively, if you can't find one, keep some plastic snakes in your garden to get rid of rats in the yard. I believe tho that you made a ‘typo’ conveying the opposite intended message near the end.. thanks again! Like mothballs, commercial snake repellents have not proven to be successful at keeping snakes away. Most of these fake repellents are substances with pungent odors that trick those shoppers who think that strong scents will keep snakes away, only to later find out that such methods are ineffective. Mothballs come in cakes, scales, powder, How to repel snakes from home – First, do not use mothballs to repel snakes from a home. If you smell mothballs, you are being exposed to these chemicals.. Children or pets sometimes mistake mothballs for food or candy and eat them, which can cause serious effects.. People claim that snakes don’t like the smell of mothballs and hate the way the liter feels and sticks to their skin. Because I have purchased it and paid 4 times what a box of moth balls… just saying…. Then, its easy enough to grab a hoe to re-direct them away from the house (it can take minutes to re-direct them completely because they seem determined). Not … How could they avoid it? When exposed to air, both chemicals sublimate into vapor, producing the strong odor that characterizes mothballs. There are a few cleaning and preventive measures … Most people know that snakes are obviously quite unique and very different from their mammalian counterparts, but most people … They are evil little white balls! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Exposure to moth balls can lead to lack of appetite, fatigue, vomiting, … The smell of napthalene irritates snakes without harming them. Mothballs are chemical insecticides that are typically shaped into small balls. There have been claims that mothballs can keep away garden pests, like snakes, as well as mice and squirrels. The fumes from mothballs can cause headache, dizziness and irritation to the eyes and lungs. Some of the chemicals in mothballs can cause reversible health effects that include … Therefore, if you place mothballs about a space, snakes will avoid the odor, and consequently, the area. If someone in your family swallows a mothball, or has been breathing the fumes and suddenly doesn’t feel well, nurses like Kathy are standing by at the Blue Ridge Poison Center 24 hours a day to help you know what to do. Mothballs are pesticides that slowly release a gas vapor to kill and repel moths (and their larvae) and other insects. As noted earlier, some species are useful at keeping pests and rodents away. Generally, snakes prefer living in bushes, holes, and other stuffy places. IARC points out that acute exposure causes cataracts … I have dealt with snakes for over thirty years. Ensuring that wood is stored on an elevated plank or stand. Previous Question … Conclusion. The lyme will burn their skin. 11 other … Are moth balls toxic to dogs? Naphthalene is an active ingredient that is commonly used in mothballs and paradichlorobenzene is the other. Before attempting to chase a snake away, it is important to ascertain whether the reptile is poisonous or not. I have heard that snakes hate the smell of mothballs and will stay away from them. If all else fails, contact a professional. Moth Balls are effective in helping to keep snakes away. "The No. Snakes “smell” with their tongues, so methods like mothballs that rely on odors are unlikely to deter them. There have been claims that mothballs can keep away garden pests, like snakes, as well as mice and squirrels. But what are mothballs, really? I now know that these mothballs aren’t effective. The iconic smell reminds many people of childhood . These products have chemical compounds that are quite irritating to a variety of creatures and so it would seem that they would make the ideal choice to use for keeping snakes away. Not sure how effective it would be in the case of mothball related smells, but generally hanging outside (on a washing line etc) in the breeze tends to remove smells. Snakes “smell” with their tongues, so methods like mothballs that rely on odors are unlikely to deter them. Nurses are available 7 days a week to help you know what to do. The later part of the video also demonstrates the effectiveness of mothballs. We know that some snakes likely came in through open windows on second floor, acquiring the roof from trees (perhaps seeking birds’ nests? The gas is not toxic to mice, and nor do they seem to care about the strong smell. Mothballs come in … Due to the pungent odor as well as the poisoning effect associated with ammonia most people thought that it will definitely help to repel pests including snakes and others. Install A Perch or Nesting Box. Mothballs don't deter snakes directly. To make an odor control box that’s relatively safe, get a small cardboard box and put some balls in it. [Related: Guess How Many Scents a Human Can Smell] In lizards and snakes, these organs open only into the mouth and are separated completely from the nasal cavity. Fact or Fiction? You also provided awareness that there is a natural way of keeping snakes away out of our backyard. Find Deals on Keep Snakes Away From … One of the most common choices that people talk about on the web is the use of mothballs or other repellents like ammonia or urine. Snakes “smell” with their tongues, so methods like mothballs that rely on odors are unlikely to deter them. Often, it is better to simply leave snakes alone. Garlic is a phenomenal snake repellent … The following are some ways in which you can permanently repel any snakes in your vicinity. Will moth balls kill carpet beetles? What other snake stories do people have? While moth balls, crystals, and cedar oil, when properly used, will kill clothes moths and carpet beetles, they do not repel these pests. Getting Rid of the Mothball Smell. A similar trick can be used to rid your house of ants only add pure sugar instead of mothballs. Regularly inspecting your surroundings to eliminate any rodents which might attract snakes. If you or someone in your family has eaten a mothball or is not feeling well after breathing the fumes, call 1-800-222-1222. This condition is known as hemolytic anemia and is often characterized by shortness of breath, fatigue, and painful or discolored urination. One such example is the use of Garcinia kola, which provides an odor that snakes find to be quite noxious. This is when red blood cells break apart and can no longer carry oxygen to all parts of the body. T HE SNOW MELTS, revealing the horror: Mice and voles have had at it in your garden, coldframe or greenhouse. There are snakes that … She also advises a rubdown with white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Mothballs are not meant to be used as animal repellents and should not be used in ways that allow people or animals to … Maybe you’ve heard that you can repel snakes using ammonia and mothballs, but you are not sure if they are going to work or not. If mothballs pose a danger and don’t really repel snakes what can you do? Consider other less toxic ways to repel snakes since they may not be able to smell the mothballs anyway. Mothballs are also used as snake, squirrel, bats, or other pest repellents, but they are not so effective. First, the compounds that make mothballs are highly water-soluble. For those individuals who prefer a hands-on approach, there are many videos on YouTube with in-depth guides to the process. Do not machine dry the clothing … Mothballs do not repel snakes!. Mothballs when deployed in a gallon jug half filled with water when placed at different areas around houses sheds or buildings will repell all types of snales and even rodents spiders and other such possibly dangerous creatures. Some of the things you can do to tidy up your yard include: Naturally, snakes feed on rodents and other household pests such as rats, lizards, geckos, and so on. Apparently, they smell like cucumbers, scented candles, and or even hair shampoo. I would like to provide some references that will convince you that MOTHBALLS, SNAKE-A-WAY, and LIME or NOT EFFECTIVE at repelling SNAKES. After viewing what do YOU think? People usually believe that mothballs will have the same effect on snakes as they have on moths and other creatures. Distinctive Smell of Mothballs. Is It Safe To Put Mothballs In The Yard? Not only do they cause a big stink, but they’re ineffective. There are many misconceptions when it comes to repelling snakes, and this is why you should research the claims to see if they are valid. … Not only that, but mothballs are designed for moths, not snakes, so they are not a practical choice to repel snakes. These products are packaged in flashing bottles with big letters to attract consumer attention. Snakes have no way of knowing if the animals or humans around them are afraid or not. They can be our friend not our enemy. ); so we ALWAYS keep second floor windows closed or screened, and keep trees, ivy vines, etc away from the roof. They have an unmistakable stench that clings to fabrics, furniture, and everything imaginable. then, the safety issue of kids and pets eating the moth balls, they think we are dumb and dont know how to prevent this. I have heard this many times about moth balls not being an effective deterrent to snakes, but if you were to look at the Snake Away repellents and others like it, a great deal of the product is crushed moth balls. Still, some people find the presence of snakes alarming and want to keep them away from their property. Tight-fitting screens and doors will keep snakes out of the house. Sometimes we’ve seen them slivering out of nearby grass fields heading for the house. I encourage you to learn about snakes. However, there hasn’t been any research done on the effect of mothballs as repellents against these animals. Camphor is a strong-smelling substance that is often used in religious rituals or in moth balls. There is a repellent you can buy, it is pretty expensive, it's Dr. _____ (? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ8bXLPQrTU, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAYqDCLW0NI, Copperhead Bites: “It’s Been Pretty Busy”. Will mothballs deter snakes? The under part of a snake’s belly is warm and moist. “They simply don’t work.” So, what can you do to keep snakes away from your home? Responses from our users:Yes, they will; snakes can't stand the smell of mothballs because they smell poisonous.Yes, I used them with great results! This article addressing if mothballs keep snakes away has been repurposed from The Antidote, a newsletter of the Blue Ridge Poison Center. In addition, it is a good idea to invest in a mouse repellent. I’m going to give it a try . Mothballs. “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet!”, says Kathy Mayo, RN and Certified Specialist in Poison Information at the Blue Ridge Poison Center. Mothballs are a pesticide regulated by the EPA and using them outdoors and in this manner is actually illegal. Mothballs are a form of chemical pesticide that leave behind a heavy and unmistakable smell, often long after the mothballs themselves are gone. Thanks for the heads up! Thank you for the informative article. 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