Humans have been dealing with rat issues for centuries. Rats are common in both suburban and city environments and thrive where people live because of the easy access to food, water, and shelter.
If you’ve been online to research how to remove rats from your home or business, you’ve probably seen the use of mothballs as an option. However, using poisons, such as those found in mothballs, can be hazardous to children and pets, along with others who may not know what a mothball is.
What Mothballs are and Why They are Dangerous
Mothballs are used to prevent clothes moths from chewing holes through clothing or other fabrics by killing them and their larvae with fumes. Mothballs are made with an active ingredient, either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, which cause the mothballs to slowly turn from solids to toxic vapor.
For either of the chemicals to effectively work, the mothballs must be placed in a sealed container so the fumes can build up enough to kill the moths. When sealed, the fumes are not harmful, but when you open up the container or wear clothing right after the container has been opened, you are inhaling the pesticide. Mothballs are also dangerous because they poison the environment and are known to be a carcinogen.
Why Mothballs Don’t Work to Get Rid of Rats
The labels on mothball packages do not recommend their product be used as an animal repellent. And, because mothballs are pesticides, the Environmental Protection Agency legally prohibits using mothballs for anything other than their intended purpose.
In addition to being illegal, rats are very smart creatures who are suspicious of new things that enter their environment. If the mothball chemicals begin to bother the rats, they will just move to another area inside your home. You must also remember that mothballs are used to prevent the development of specific insect larvae, which means you would have to use a tremendous amount of mothballs to affect the rats. However, if you use enough to harm the rats, you will be putting yourself in the same amount of danger.
What to Do If You Have Rat Problems
While you can try a safer alternative to get rid of rats such as soaking cotton balls in peppermint oil or placing entire peppermint plants in different areas of your home, the only guaranteed way to remove rats is by trapping them and finding out how they are accessing your home. Once you learn how the rats are getting inside, you can seal the areas shut and then physically trap and remove the rats.
If you suspect you may have a rat problem, using DIY solutions such as mothballs won’t eliminate the problem. Instead, it’s recommended that you call an experienced wildlife removal expert at the first signs of a possible rat infestation.
At Critter Control® of Orlando, our trained technicians will perform a home inspection and come up with a plan to remove the rats based on the extent of the infestation. We will advise you on why rats are being attracted to your home and what you can do to keep them away. We also offer home services and exterior cleaning to get your home back to its original shape. Get a free estimate today by calling 407-295-7194.