Will repellents get a rodent out of the attic? (none work well)

Will repellents get a rodent out of the attic? (none work well) Spraying any creature, even humans, would either scare them away, impede their health or kill them. I will attempt to debunk the myth of using repellents to get a rodent out of the attic.

Store bought repellents:

These repellents are made to annihilate small crawling and flying insects such as mosquitos and cockroaches, maybe even small lizards. Granted, mosquitoes may fly off before they die and you may have to use half a tin on a cockroach or an entire tin on a lizard depending on the strength of the repellent, but at least it scares them off. This would not be the case for rodents. These creatures are just too large. These repellents are made with chemicals that would not harm humans or pets if inhaled and would therefore not be suitable to get a rodent out of the artic.

Ammonia as a repellent:

Ammonia should never be sprayed in the household. It is a poisonous substance and may repel the rodent but inhalation of this chemical is harmful to all living creatures, including humans. Spraying this may kill the rodent or run them from the attic, but when the scent subsides, they rodent may return. It may even take refuge in a crevice somewhere in the attic until it can safely come out, therefore this is not a guarantee that the rodent will leave or die. This chemical should never be sprayed in the home because chances are, you, your pet, your children and the rodent, would suffer drastic reactions that are dangerous for health.



Mint as a repellent:

Peppermint oil or mint leaves have very strong scents that some old wives may have suggested for getting rid of rodents. This has never been proven and would unfortunately be labelled a myth, but it would make the household smell good. Rodents are used to crawling through garbage and sewerage that are not only strongly scented, but disturbingly disgusting and can cause humans to choke from refusing to inhale or have their nostrils burnt. If rodents can breathe in this foul stench, then breathing in a minty scent would not harm them in any way and I am pretty sure they would get used to the scent no time.

Urine as a repellent:

Not just any urine, but cat urine. Rodents such as mice, are caught and killed by cats, so they often stay away from places where cats reside and the rodents are usually sensitive to the scent of cat urine. Lately however, rats have been found living comfortably in households where pets, even cats, reside, so cat urine as a repellent is no longer applicable. Its stench is also unpleasant and it would be unwise not get rid of it.

I conclusion, the only repellent that would work is ammonia. Unfortunately, ammonia should not be used, under any circumstances, as a repellent. Repellents made for household use are too weak to get a rodent out of the attic. You would have better luck using traps and sealing the house properly from any holes or gaps.


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