As long as human beings have built and lived in homes, critters and pests of all kinds have tried to invade them. And ever since these wildlife invasions became a problem, several solutions have been peddled to address them.
Whether it’s cayenne peppers for repelling squirrels and rabbits or peppermint oil for mice, sources all over the internet are there to let you know that the solution to your pest problem is already right there in your kitchen just waiting for you to use it.
And then, of course, there’s the tailor-made products. From ultrasonic animal repellers to animal-repellent sprays, companies of all stripes will gladly take your money for their miracle animal deterrents.
But do they really work?
At HY-C, we manufacture an entire line of nuisance and wildlife control products. We’re also a partner of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA). We know a thing or two about nuisance wildlife.
In this guide, we’re going to address the efficacy and limitations of animal repellents. We’ll also outline the broad strokes of a much more effective and permanent solution: wildlife exclusion.
5 Limits of Animal Repellents
Whether it’s the so-called all-natural solutions found in your kitchen or at the local grocery store or professionally manufactured sprays, liquids, or pellets, there are plenty of reasons to avoid animal repellents.
You may experience short-term success with some of these deterrents, but they’re simply not an effective, permanent solution. Here are five reasons to consider other options.
1. Animal Repellents Wear Off Quickly
Spraying your landscaping with a scent that critters hate or putting out food that wildlife may find off-putting is a good idea in theory. In practice, though, you’ll experience temporary relief at best and complete ineffectiveness at worst.
Imagine spraying peppermint oil or white vinegar all throughout your yard or even on your home itself. All it takes is a quick rain shower to wash your recently applied pest repellent down the sewer.
Or say you sprinkle some crushed cayenne pepper throughout your property. Just a few gusts of 10 to 20 mile-per-hour winds will blow it all away in a matter of seconds.
And these environmental factors are bad enough without mentioning that sprays, pellets, or food evaporate and deteriorate on their own very quickly, even without the wind or rain interfering. Which leads to the next problem with animal repellents…
2. Animal Repellents Require Constant Application
Because they wear off so quickly, applying an animal repellent isn’t something you have to do just once. In fact, to ensure they stay effective at all, you’ll likely need to apply them daily or even multiple times per day.
Not only does this application process become a chore, but the costs can add up fast. The last thing you want to do is go through a bottle of Irish Spring soap each week in an attempt to keep the bugs away from your plants.
Also, if you forget to apply your deterrent even once or you’re out of town for a few days, your pest problem will simply persist. Without the repellent, critters will be right back inside your home or garden.
3. Animal Repellents Typically Only Target One Critter
Several varieties of pests target homes. Whether you’re trying to keep squirrels or rabbits out of your garden, foxes off your property, or you’re just trying to scare away the neighbor’s dog, wildlife of all kinds can cause a myriad of different problems.
Because different types of animals see, hear, smell, and taste differently, there’s no one catch-all solution for all of them.
This is evident by the creation and marketing of pest-specific repellents. There are varieties for cats and dogs, foxes, squirrels — if you can name an animal, some company or another has probably developed a spray or ultrasonic device for it.
You simply can’t buy and use enough repellents to keep out every type of animal. One repellent may keep out the birds, but you’ll still be vulnerable to raccoons. One deterrent may discourage mice, but the bats will still find their way in.
4. Animal Repellents Can Cause Health and Environmental Hazards
Efficacy aside, there are plenty of ethical concerns with using chemical solutions to keep wildlife off of your property.
Many of these products can be potentially harmful to the animals they attempt to deter. And when they’re inevitably washed away into the sewers, they can end up in lakes, rivers, or streams that are nowhere near your house, causing problems for critters in completely separate areas.
Not only that, but putting out pellets or using animal-repellent sprays can be harmful to pets in your neighborhood. If a curious cat or dog eats the granules you put out to keep squirrels away from your garden, it could prove fatal.
And if that’s not enough, some of these products are also harmful to children.
5. Animals Simply Get Used to Animal Repellents
If the first four reasons haven’t been enough to convince you, this one probably should: animal repellents simply stop working after a while.
Animals are incredibly adaptable. Even when we change their environment in such a way that we consider inhabitable, they somehow always find a way to thrive.
You can put out coffee grounds, cinnamon, or dryer sheets, but eventually, the rats will get used to the smell and keep coming back.
You can put ultrasonic or vibrating devices in your yard, but eventually, the moles and voles will realize that they’re not a threat and continue to rip up your grass.
Repellents may work at first, but eventually, they’ll just stop working. It’s not a matter of it, but when.
And if you need proof, just look at the reviews. A jug of Bonide Repels All for deer, rabbits, and squirrels has a 2.8 out of 5 rating on lowes.com. A pack of Victor PestChaser Electronic Pest Repellers has a 2.8 out of 5 rating on acehardware.com. Many of these products just don’t work.
How Do You Keep Animals Away?
So, it should be pretty clear by now that animal repellents offer limited success at best. A glaring question, though, still remains: “What should I use instead?”
Any seasoned wildlife control operator will tell you that the best, most sure-fire way to keep animals from invading your home is through wildlife exclusion. These products consist of physical barriers installed over common vulnerability points to lock animals out.
Wildlife exclusion products are made of solid steel. Not only are they chew-proof and tamper-proof, but they also resist weather-related corrosion. They’re a permanent solution that will ensure animals stay out of your chimney, attic, crawl space, basement, and every other part of your home.
We manufacture wildlife exclusion devices under our HY-GUARD EXCLUSION brand. It’s a comprehensive lineup of solutions that provide roof-to-foundation protection against virtually any and every wildlife species.
Read more about it to discover how HY-GUARD EXCLUSION can keep your home pest-free for years to come.
