Can anyone recommend an organic rodent repellent?

[KansDem]

I'm moving a chest of drawers out into the garage and will be putting some clothes in it. I plan to put mostly bulky items like sweaters and blankets, but I don't want rodents gnawing on them for nesting material!

I plan to put cedar chips in the drawers to fend on moths and the like. What could I use to repel rodents?

[Muttocracy]

1. I'm not sure what you mean by organic - I think you mean less toxic?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is mostly prevention, less-toxic pesticides only when absolutely necessary. With rodents prevention is the big thing. Here are a few publications for ideas:

http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/publications/evictmice/default.asp

http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pesticides/schoolipm/pests/rodents.htm

http://schoolipm.ifas.ufl.edu/tp9.htm

[baldguy]

2. Other than this?

[KansDem]

8. I have two cats...they're spoiled.

I don't think they'd want the job.

[bif]

3. Moth balls

[appal_jack]

12. moth balls are toxic hell

"Moth balls are made from one of two chemicals, naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Both chemicals act as fumigants and must be present in high concentration to be effective - and this is the problem. Concentrations high enough to be effective are toxic to you as well. For this reason I don't generally suggest using "moth balls" of any kind, except in the special circumstance of long-term storage of especially valuable textiles. If you do decide to use them, however, be sure to carefully air-out or dry clean articles when you remove them from storage."

http://www.ent.orst.edu/urban/clothes_moth.html




A possible alternative would be to use various 'strewing herbs:' fragrant and resinous leaves such as tansy, sage, bay leaves, lavender, etc., but I am not sure I'd trust some nice sweaters to this.

A surer bet would be to buy some 'Quintox' bait/poison (AND a bait station that will let rats and mice in, but keep pets and kids out)from Peaceful Valley. According to their current catalog, this product is considered organic by at least the Washington State Dept. of Ag. :shrug:

More info can be found at:

http://www.groworganic.com/item_PAB061_Quintox_Mouse__Rat_Bait_Pail_of_.html

[KansDem]

13. I once used rue as a "cat repellent"

I once read where cats don't like rue. I had a cat that like to jump up on my desk and walk around on my computer keyboard, so I bought some rue and put it in an incense holder, which I placed on the desk. The cat got the message and didn't jump up on my desk anymore!

Is rue a "strewing herb?" Might work for rodents, too.

[appal_jack]

19. why, yes it is

I've never grown rue, so I had to google around to find info on it, and I found the following quote:
"It was used as a strewing herb, anti-plague herb and as an insecticide/pesticide. Also once believed to be a witchcraft and an anti-witchcraft plant."
along with a bunch of other good info about rue (including its cat-repellent properties) at:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/312/

Pretty neat trick to be "a witchcraft and an anti-witchcraft plant" all at once. I bet the witches were just faking being repelled by rue to get the fundies out of their hair...

-app

Edit to add that 'strewing herbs' are those that were, once dried, literally strewn around the inside perimeters of houses to keep away bugs, rats, etc. Around me, there are still many old houses with tansy growing just outside the kitchen door to keep the ants from crawling in...

[KG]

4. a kitteh?

[Kali]

5. there isn't anything organic or not that is very effective with rodents

best is a dresser with a solid back and bottom. And traps set near or under - watch for sign - chewed wood, droppings etc. I have heard that old fashioned moth balls will repel, but they just don't last very long and you are better off trapping any that might be in a garage anyway.

[LynneSin]

6. A cat

Doesn't get any more organic than that

[KansDem]

9. See post no. 8 (nt)

[LostInAnomie]

7. A cat or a mini-schnauzer.

[KansDem]

10. See post no. 8 (nt)

[Road Scholar]

11. Is a .22 organic? I think it is,

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[WCGreen]

20. I was just going to say that....

Pick 'em off, Cephus...

[DS1]

14. CO Liberal's feet

[Parche]

15. Oxicotin

For use only on right wing radio hacks.........:rofl:

:hi:

[appal_jack]

16. Silly Parche!

Oxycontin is a fat-rat ATTRACTANT. The OP will be over-run by Limbaughs if the dresser drawers are packed with Oxy-Rush.

:hi: :rofl:

-app

[Orsino]

17. Why would you want to repel organic rodents?

Shouldn't you hippie types be welcoming them into your families, or something? :hippie:

:hi:

[Critters2]

18. The electronic rodent repellent things do work.

The ones for bugs don't, but the ones for rodents do, or so all my country-living parishioners tell me. On their advice, I bought some for my house, and between that and the cats, my mice are gone. Don't know which was more effective, but I don't have mice now.

Also, catnip is an effective bug repellent. I buy catnip tea bags and just drop 'em in drawers and boxes and things.

[seemunkee]

21. A Jack Russell

Those things are damn good ratters.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

22. Steel wool

If you want to block a hole to keep rodents out use steel wool. The little buggers used to come through this little hole and chew wires in the pump panel. They'd fry their silly selves and shut down the irrigation to boot. Daft buggers. So I shoved in some old soapless brillo pads.
Cat piddle scares 'em off too.
I like mice though.

[Liberal Veteran]

23. A couple of these should help.

[ashling]

24. Try this

http://www.dan-dare.org/FreeFun/Games/TomAndJerry2.htm