# Effective rat deterrents? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 16, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-rat-deterrents/754880 "2016-05-16T00:44:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-rat-deterrents/754880/21 "2016-05-20T22:26:34Z")
Sorry, OP, it’s no fun to be woken up by furry neighbours of any variety. I’d like to advise you, (and others reading the thread), no matter how frustrated you might get, to avoid using rodenticides. They have a knock-on effect on [your local wildlife](http://www.audubon.org/magazine/january-february-2013/poisons-used-kill-rodents-have-safer), especially predators like owls. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-rat-deterrents/754880/22 "2016-05-20T22:54:20Z")
Thanks, I’m not into poisons for a lot of reasons including the one you mention. Thank you all for all the replies. ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-rat-deterrents/754880/23 "2016-05-23T14:40:12Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Rats have very poor eyesight. Their main senses are hearing and smell. Along those lines, I have heard that mothballs act as a repellant. No practical experience, just hearsay. :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effective-rat-deterrents/754880.md?page=1)