Rodent Repellent

Basics

• This page aims to cover Non/Less-Lethal Means of Repelling Small Rodents such as Mice , Rats , and Squirrels etc
• Main concern is them turning stored equipment into nest space/eating the wires in said equipment, or just mess/disease risk more broadly

Spray

Mint Oil Based

COTS

• An Amazon Listing for “ Mighty Mint Peppermint Oil Rodent Repellent Spray with Microfiber Cloth – Natural Indoor & Outdoor Control for Mice and Rats– Plant-Based, Extra-Strong Formula - 1 Gallon (128 oz)”
  • About $33 as of this edit
  • Best selling on amazon supposedly
  • Except from being considered a pesticide due to being exempt as per FIFRA 25b
• Emulsion of Peppermint Essential Oil and Water
  • MAYBE an Emulsifier/Soap in there? Checking the SDS now
• Mentions it killing insects, this may be a side-benefit of it covering their breathing pores (as other Oil/Oil Emulsion Sprays do) which sort of drowns them
  • Unlike the (weak, but still intense) nerve agent based sprays etc
  • The one downside of this is for things like Wasp Spray it won’t kill wasps that land AFTER you spray, or if they dodge the spray well enough, but ALSO it means…you aren’t needing to make+be exposed to a weak nerve agent

DIY/OS

• If one has the space to grow some mint, and a Soxhelet Extractor + some water or ethanol etc how cheap could you get it? (Assuming you use a ton)

External Links

• A Video by the YouTube Channel “Shawn Woods Homestead” Titled “Does Mint Oil Actually Repel Real Mice? Let’s Test It Out With Real Mice.” ( ‘’’~4 Minute Watch’’’ )
  • They used pure essential oil, but it did seem to work
  • They made a wooden “Bait Station” with a Clear Roof, added mouseholes for them to get in+some food, the product they used (which seemed to be akin to those “car clips” that have a fragrance capsule+membrane etc) seemed to work
    • Experiment could use more controls/trials, but the mice did seem hesitant to enter and supposedly didn’t
      • Between that and the swath of anecdotes, it seems viable
      • Experimentation to determine the exact mechanism (ie is it workable as a barrier, or only if the area is SATURATED in smell (such as a small box etc) is worth investigating
      • Also to what degree can they/will they become desensitized/accustomed to the smell
      • Also are there rodents/species this may not work on?