Voles are one of the serious problems a gardener has to deal with. Those little creatures might look tiny but if you own a garden, then you may have the idea of voles’ destructive nature.
Voles love to dig deep long tunnels all over the ground and thus damage your fancy yard. These garden pests don’t stop there. You’ll find all your plants whether vegetables or ornamental ones demolished if you don’t take any action against voles in the early stage.
Voles can expand their family in a short time so to protect the garden or yard it’s crucial to find a way that’ll get rid of voles.
You must have heard the name of mothballs if you too are facing the voles’ strike and looking for a strong solution. Mothballs are suggested by many to fight against voles. But can they get rid of voles?
Let’s dive in and learn if mothballs are effective against voles and if there are other solutions to this crisis.
Do mothballs get rid of voles?
Though mothballs are known as vole repellent they are hardly effective against them. Rather mothballs are infused with toxic chemicals and can put humans and pets at risk. In fact, mothballs are illegal to use in gardens. So it’s better to rely on other safe methods to repel voles.
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Voles, a member of the rodent family, are considered garden enemies for their destructive actions. This herbivore animal can appear any time of the year but their activity peaks around the fall, winter, and spring.
Along with eating young plants, damaging their roots, voles dig long tunnels throughout the ground and mess up your garden.
When it comes to repelling these mischievous and ruinous field mice, the name of mothballs pops up with many other suggestions. It’s believed by a lot of people that keeping mothballs in the garden can keep voles away. But that’s a wrong idea.
Mothballs aren’t very effective against voles, instead they are highly toxic for anyone.
Mothballs are small balls of chemicals and a kind of pesticides. It’s mainly made to repel moths from closed areas, such as closets, trunks, storage areas, bags, etc. They are highly unsafe since they can contain naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene harmful chemicals.
When used openly mothballs release gas that can cause discomfort to animals and nature.
Moreover, if you use it in your garden to keep voles away, it might not satisfy you. Because mothballs aren’t certified to repel voles. Instead, it will poison the soil and plants.
Why shouldn’t you use mothballs to keep voles away?
If you’ve witnessed voles in your garden you may want to try the most accessible things around to drive them away. Thus many people suggest mothballs as a vole repellent.
But we guess you wouldn’t go with mothballs if you learn how harmful these are. Here are three reasons why mothballs shouldn’t be used to keep voles away:
Mothballs are toxic to nature:
Mothballs are chemical-made balls mainly containing naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. These chemicals are highly toxic and emit gas in the air when unsealed. If used in the garden as a pesticide it will harm nature badly.
The poisonous gas of mothballs when absorbed by the soil can ruin its quality as well destroy the plants’ roots and stems. Moreover, the vapor of mothballs can pollute the air when thrown in an open area.
Mothballs can harm people and pets:
Mothballs are filled with injurious chemicals that emit in the form of gas and spread all in the air. Inhaling the gas of mothballs can result in breathing problems.
Long-time contact with mothballs can cause serious health issues such as anemia, renal problem, etc.
They don’t completely repel voles:
Mothballs don’t work as a good vole repellent. Their pungent smell might temporarily keep voles away but it doesn’t completely remove them.
This chemical-based stuff somehow got the title of a vole repellent but in reality, it only causes harm and is illegal to use randomly.
Is it safe to put mothballs in your garden?
No, it’s unsafe to keep mothballs in the garden or yard. Because mothballs are made of harsh chemicals and they can act harmful if kept in an open place.
Mothballs are usually little balls made of chemicals such as naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene to use against moths. These chemicals are highly toxic and thus release poisonous gas into the air.
Mothballs were actually developed to use in closed areas such as closets, drawers, folds of clothes, etc. to keep them safe from moths. But that too marinating restrictions and not randomly.
If kept in an open area the fume of mothballs gets absorbed by the air and the soil. Thus it ruins the quality of the soil and demolishes the plants of the garden. Moreover, mothballs don’t act strongly against voles. So it’s not encouraged to use in gardens.
Are mothballs toxic to plants and animals?
Mothballs are very toxic to plants and animals. They emit their toxicity through gas when used in open areas such as in yards or gardens.
The soil of the garden absorbs the chemicals of mothballs and gets affected by the harsh chemicals when used there. Mothballs contaminate the soil and ruin the quality to nourish plants.
Mothballs as they reach the plants through the soil destroy the delicate parts of the plants. Plants lose their stem, root, and young leaves as a result.
Not only to plants, but mothballs are harmful to animals too. The fumes of mothballs are so toxic that when inhaled they discomfort the animals. Too much of these chemical balls can lead to eye and nose irritation, skin problems, etc.
Is it legal to put mothballs in your yard?
Mothballs are pesticides containing harmful ingredients and are monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency. They are mostly made of any of these chemicals – naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene.
Both these are highly poisonous and so make mothballs unsafe for nature and animals.
The fumes of mothballs contain harmful gas which can trigger various health problems. When inhaled it can cause difficulty in breathing, headache, nausea, and other serious health issues. Mothballs are even toxic to nature.
The Environmental Protection Agency has made it illegal to use without a solid reason. So it’s not legal to use it without following the label.
What works best to get rid of voles?
Instead of using unsafe materials for keeping voles away from your garden, you can rely on these effective yet safe ideas to repel the field mice simply.
Use their predators:
Owls,Coyotes are natural predators of voles. Taking this advantage, you can set up a barn owl box around the garden so that it attracts the owl to live there. Or you can use coyote’s urine around the border to make voles avoid the place.
Go for Natural ingredients:
Natural ingredients are easily available and safe. To repel voles, the smell of castor oil, hot peppers act effectively. Planting fragrant plants such as marigolds, Scylla in the garden can keep voles away. Using garlic mixed with water too is a good vole repellent.
Use Commercial repellents:
There are many repellents in the market that are specially made targeting voles or rodents. They are safe to use in the garden or outdoor and really strong against those garden pests. If you want quick results, you can use these repellents or take the help of pest control experts.
Final Thoughts
Mothballs don’t get rid of voles effectively. They are highly toxic elements and are not legally permitted to use in gardens. Mothballs can cause severe health issues to the living creatures and pollute nature with their harmful chemicals. However, there are other safe ways to repel voles strongly.