Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Rat Deterrent 
Name: mike
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
my friends have a house with a basement, they have seen rats coming from cider blocks that are open at the top ,and on inspection with a mirror seem to go all the down to the foundation, i suggested maybe putting moth balls down the blocks to help out if they are coming from the botton up, they have a new baby in the house, will this hurt anyone or cause harm? thanks


Replies:
Moth balls are not going to hurt anyone, but they are not going to solve the problem either. Rats are serious pests that will not be deterred by moth balls and a permanent solution, sealing up access points after removing the rats, will be needed.

J. Elliott

Stuff the holes with steel wool. It's not poisonous, it's cheap, and rats can't chew through it.

Richard E. Barrans Jr.


Click here to return to the Biology Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory