Opossums like to live in urban areas where they are able to find ample opportunities to scavenge for food. This makes them come into conflict with human beings when trying to make their homes under the deck or house. They also like to get into homes and attics and will steal your pet’s food as well as even threaten them as well.
When the time comes to get rid of opossums, some people use mothballs or ammonia to repel these creatures. But do mothballs or ammonia help repel opossums? The answer is no.
Not much help
Both mothballs and ammonia are repellents that can easily be bought by people who want to get rid of opossums. The unfortunate truth is these are not good repellents and will not do much to help you chase possums away. If you try to use mothballs or ammonia, they won’t do anything which is why it makes more sense to call in a professional to help you deal with the opossums.
Smell fades away
The fact is when you use ammonia or mothballs, the opossums will soon get used to them. Being smelly creatures, opossums have a musky odor that spoils the smell in your box trap. In addition, opossums also defecate copiously and will urinate everywhere. Thus, when you first use mothballs or ammonia to drive possums away, it may work initially but the smell will soon fade and then the creatures become desensitized to the smell.
Different ways to use ammonia or mothballs won’t help
Even if you try to use mothballs or ammonia in different ways, the results will not be suitable. You could for example, dip ammonia in a towel and you could then use the towel to wipe different areas where the opossums live. You could even leave towels dipped in ammonia near the opossum den. However, these methods will not work and the fact is there are no registered repellents available that can drive opossums away.
Keep in mind that ammonia is really a very good cleaning agent that needs to be used in the right way. It can easily give off a poisonous gas that if you or your family members or pet are exposed to for long periods, can cause various problems with your eyes and nose as well as throat. In some instances, this exposure can cause severe problems like blindness or damaged lungs as well as even death.
The truth is ammonia and mothballs do not work to help you get rid of opossums. They only create a stink. Mothballs are made from chemicals that are very toxic and this can prove to be dangerous for you, your family and your pets. If the mothballs get hot, then they give off gases that can prove to be dangerous for everyone. So, it makes no sense to use ammonia or mothballs to drive away opossums. Trapping them and getting rid of them is the better option.
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