A common odor we come across on home inspections is the smell of mothballs. It’s one of many home remedies humans use to deter or evict critters from their home. The question is do these home remedies actually work?
The good news is in some cases, yes! For instance, bird feeders attract a good amount of squirells. Some home owners would rather just feed the birds. Birds are not bothered by the heat from a good pepper. Squirrels on the other hand are not a fan of spicy foods. This home remedy has become commercialized and available in most pet stores. So spicy foods for some and not others. What about mothballs?
It’s been our experience that mothballs hold little merit when evicting critters like squirells and raccoons. Squirells and raccoons are territorial and can be aggressive in defending their homes. We have witnessed many times mothballs in attics living side by side with critters.
There are always exceptions to rule but for the most part the safest and most guaranteed method of removing a critter will be through exclusion work (repairs) and trapping or the use of one way doors. If you have a home remedy you want to try out, keep safety in mind. For more information contact us for specific applications.