I don't remember who it was, or what thread it was in, and now I can't find the thread to answer!

If it was you, can you please ask again?!?! Thanks!

It wasn't me but if anyone needs a cure for raccoons, mothballs work. I am using that around my garden and my garbage. Horray, no raccoons or anything else it seems.

I didn't ask about them but I thought I'd share a picture of a baby one that wedged itself in the space between the bars and window above my front door last winter!

n my soapbox:
I feel I must respond here. It's not my job on this board, but it is my job in real life to make sure that people understand that some types of pest control that have been used for years (most with inconsistent success) are actually illegal. Most of the time, the reason they are illegal is that they can have a drastically negative effect on the environment! That environment not only includes the animal you intend to direct it toward, but also other non-targets, including your pets, your children and yourself. It is for this reason, if you read the label on just about any chemical product, somewhere on it you will find the words "It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling."

Mothballs are a classic case in point. If you don't already know, most mothballs contain napthalene. Without getting into a lot of complex detail, I will tell you that exposure to napthalene has a myriad of nasty side effects. Long term exposure intensifies them (for this reason never, NEVER use mothballs in large quantities in open air in your home; i.e. do not dump them in the attic/crawlspace to get rid of a critter!). They include, but are not limited to, vertigo, general dizziness, lethargy, nausea, headaches, various neurological problems, and oh yeah, cancer. If you don't believe me, go to the EPA or CDC websites and search mothballs or napthalene. If you use them near your garden, they will make the plants unsafe to eat. If you are on a well, they can get into your water supply and make it unsafe to drink. A child could pick one up and eat it and end up with brain damage. The neighbor's cat could eat one and experience kidney failure.

In simplest terms: mothballs are meant for moths. Not for raccoons, skunks, squirrels, snakes or your mother in law (although, the latter is very tempting!). There is a reason mothballs are labelled for moths. That's what they're for. The EPA isn't trying to bully you into having to put up with raccoons (there are other, more successful and less toxic ways to deal with them). They are trying to protect you. And your children. And your pets. And the neighbors pets. You get the idea!

I'm down off my soapbox now, and as a concerned friend, I would ask you never to use mothballs as an animal repellent again. The same goes for ammonia, bleach, antifreeze and anything else you can think of that is NOT LABELLED as an animal repellent. There is a reason they aren't labelled that way. Please understand and respect that!

no8fann,

That is something I didn't know. I went to my hardware store and asked and they said to use that so I did. I didn't know it was harmful to animals, I was just happy that my garbage wasn't knocked down daily. I didn't know. Sorry.

I know a lot of places that people trust dispense this "information" as good advice. I just try to make sure people know why the simplest solution isn't the best! I'm glad you got the information I posted!