One of the worst things to come across is your garden being plundered by animals.
That's precisely what happened to me a couple of months ago when a group of raccoons wrecked my heirloom tomato plants. I felt hopeless and lost the will to redo the space as it seemed pointless.
On hearing about the incident, my neighbor suggested that I look for animal repellents that can keep the raccoons from creating any more nuisance. This brought me to research various animal-control products and find a repellant that could work well for my garden.
Hi! I'm Stacy Smith, and I'm here to tell you the five best animal repellents currently available on the market. So, without further ado, let's get started!
Top 5 Best Animal Repellents Reviews
1. Bonide BND2361 Repels-All Animal Repellent
Bonide is one of the most renowned brands that has been producing animal and pest repellents and other gardening products since 1926. This product comes with an all-natural formula that can mildly irritate the nasal passages of intruding animals to keep them off your property.
Product Highlights
To begin with, what made me interested in this product was its natural composition, which includes active ingredients like cloves, garlic oil, and rotten egg solids. This unique concoction from Bonide is irritating to the nasal passages of the animals and triggers their instinct to escape.
The best part is that the repellent works for most animals, including skunks, rats, raccoons, birds, and groundhogs. There's no need to worry about their health as it doesn't cause long-lasting distress to animals. Moreover, the granules are biodegradable and aren't harmful to people, pets, or your precious plants.
Another point to note is that it's pretty easy to apply this product; you just need to sprinkle it around the desired area and lightly water the space. Also, the granules can defend against the animals for up to two months on correct application.
What’s There To Like About It?
What I like the most about this repellent is that it's the most effective product that has successfully kept my garden raccoon-free. And it doesn't cause any distress to my dogs even when they roam pretty close to the garden; just ensure that your pets don't touch the granules.
Moreover, the natural ingredients in this product are absolutely safe for my plants. The granules can help deter different types of animals, so I don't need to buy multiple repellents.
What's There Not To Like About It?
This isn't really a drawback of the product, but you are required to reapply the granules every two months. And a more regular reapplication might be necessary when it rains. I prefer to sprinkle it every month to ensure that no feral animal is lurking about my raised garden beds.
Pros and Cons of Bonide BND2361 Repels-All Animal Repellent
Pros
Cons
- STRONG REPELLER - This unique blend of ingredients causes mild irritation to animal's nasal passages. When an animal touches, tastes, or smells Repels-All Animal Repellent, it triggers the natural instinct to escape/avoid and the pest leaves.
- ANIMALS AFFECTED - Our granules repel species of squirrel, deer, rabbit, chipmunk, mouse, skunk, rat, beaver, raccoon, porcupine, bird, groundhog and more rodent species.
- DEFEND YOUR GARDEN AND HOME - Apply around homes, gardens, garbage cans, barns, swimming pools, sheds, woodpiles, decks, patios, and campsites to prevent grazing, chewing, gnawing, nibbling and browsing damage to plants and property.
2. Natural Armor Animal Repellent
If you're looking for a natural animal repellent that can be used outdoors and indoors, this one from Natural Armor will be an excellent choice. This ready-to-use spray is known to be effective in repelling all kinds of unwanted guests, from skunks to moles, without harming the environment.
Product Highlights
This is the animal repellent recommended by my neighbor, who has been swearing by its effectiveness in deterring rodents for several years. The highlight of this product has to be the peppermint-based formula which is refreshing to the human nose but instantly triggers an instinct to escape for the animals.
It's designed for outdoor and indoor use, making the product useful for repelling rodent nests in attics and crawl spaces.
The heavy-duty trigger sprayer provided with the bottle makes the application straightforward and comfortable even when you need to cover a pretty large area. A single application may remain effective for up to 90 days, making it long-lasting.
Plus, the product is waterproof, so you don't need to worry about it getting washed away by rain. And as the liquid contains natural ingredients, it won't harm you, your pets, or the plants.
What’s There To Like About It?
My friend and I agree that one of the best parts of using this repellent is the easy application. All you need to do is shake the bottle and apply it generously over the desired area. I also find the peppermint smell refreshing and light rather than overwhelming.
Furthermore, Natural Armor provides a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're unhappy with the results. Fortunately, customers don't need to answer too many questions to get a refund.
What's There Not To Like About It?
The reason I placed this formula after the Bonide animal repellent is that it seems rather expensive, considering a large amount of product is needed for each application. Here, a bottle containing 128 fluid ounces of liquid can be used to only cover an area of about 1,000 square feet.
Pros and Cons of Natural Armor Animal Repellent
Pros
Cons
- GETS RID OF and KEEPS AWAY Skunks, Raccoons, Rats, Mice, Deer and Nuisance Pests & Critters From Unwanted Areas Such As Homes, Yards, Flowers, Gardens and Landscaping
- INDOOR/OUTDOOR USE - For Indoor Applications Use Inside Your Home, Garages, Sheds & Patios. For Outdoor Applications Use Sidewalks, Driveways, Outdoor Plants & Gardens
- EASY TO USE JUST SHAKE AND SPRAY - Comes With Comfortable Heavy Duty Trigger Sprayer That Is Guaranteed Not To Clog. Covers Approximately 1,000 square feet. Product is Waterproof and Lasts Up To 90 Days and Doesn't Wash Off Easily
3. Broox Animal Repeller
Are you apprehensive about using chemical-based repellents in your garden? Don't worry, as this product from Broox helps keep away animals by using a bright LED light and ultrasonic sound waves. So, you will be able to repel the animals from your property without causing any harm.
Product Highlights
What sets this device apart from other similar products is its dual strategy of using a bright LED light and ultrasonic sound waves. So, even if the sound doesn't deter an animal, it will surely have a flight response due to the flashing light.
It’s worth mentioning that the infrared motion sensor of this device is highly effective, and it seldom misses the detection of any animal movement. As the distance and sensitivity of the sensor are adjustable, you can save your garden from big and small animals.
The high-quality waterproof and UV-protected construction of this device also ensures its durability irrespective of the weather condition. Hence, the device won't be affected by light rain, snow, or harsh sun when placed on your lawn, garden, or yard.
Nevertheless, I have placed the device at a lower position than the Natural Armor animal repellent spray as you'll need to spend some time setting it up.
What’s There To Like About It?
Thanks to the various easy-to-understand modes of this device, deterring most kinds of animals from your property isn't that hard. At first, you'll need to be a bit more patient about using this device, but within a couple of weeks, the animals should stop trespassing.
Notably, the solar power feature keeps the batteries charged, reducing the need to check the device frequently . Plus, you can easily charge it using the USB cable when there are consecutive cloudy or rainy days.
What's There Not To Like About It?
My only gripe with this product is that it can sense motion only up to a distance of 20 to 25 feet, which is slightly low compared to other similar devices. You may need to purchase multiple devices to cover your entire garden area and keep it free from animal activity.
Pros and Cons of Broox Animal Repeller
Pros
Cons
- Do you have problem with unwanted animals in your area, garden, farm? Are they destroying your garden or eating the fruits? Do they bring many viruses to you? Let's start to use Broox deer Repellent to solve your problems! This effective device helps you to get rid of unwelcome animal visitors. It contains a motion detector system which detects movements and emits powerful ultrasonic sound and flashing LED light.
- Repel animals in a humane way: Broox squirrel repellent outdoor, repels animals by emitting ultrasonic sound, alarm and LED flashing light. When the motion detector, detects a motion, it will trigger the ultrasonic speaker to emit a high frequency noise which makes animals uncomfortable, therefore, keeps them away from the protected area.
- Solar Powered and Waterproof (normal rain): With a solar panel on the top of the device, it can be charged by solar energy, that benefits in energy saving and environmental protection. It also can be charged with included USB cord. This outdoor repellent uses high-grade material with the weatherproof and UV-protected construction, which can protect itself against water splashed from all directions and withstand normal rain, snow, or the harsh sun. it is perfect for garden, yard, farm, etc.
4. Havahart 5277 Animal Repellent
Honestly, this water sprinkling repellent from Havahart is one of the most innovative devices you can find on the market. The quick and easy installation and its humane repelling system have made this a popular choice for many to keep their property free from animal intrusions.
Product Highlights
Right off the bat, what caught my attention was the unique repelling system of this device. It uses a highly-efficient motion detector to trace activity within a 100 feet radius and shoots water up to a distance of 50 feet to deter trespassers. Don't worry — it runs for only five seconds, so only two to three cups of water are used per spray, making the device eco-friendly.
Besides, the installation is pretty simple, as the company provides all the necessary instructions. After setting it up, all you need to do is place it in the desired area and connect the hose. The metal spike allows you to place it anywhere on the lawn or garden without much struggle.
Due to its compact design and green color, the device blends with the surroundings. Hence, it catches any sly intruders off-guard.
What’s There To Like About It?
Among all the things I like about this device, its wide range stood out to me. Based on the selected sensitivity, it can detect animal activity using body heat up to a distance of 100 feet. Hence, this device effectively repels animals of all sizes, including birds, cats, small rodents, squirrels, and even deer.
One more highly appreciable feature is that it can be used as a sprinkler, letting you quickly water your lawn or garden. Even my dogs love taking a shower under it.
What's There Not To Like About It?
While going through the reviews of this product, I found that many people have faced leakages due to the high water pressure delivered by the hoses. Because such a problem may affect its user-friendliness, I have placed it at a position lower than the Broox Animal Repeller. However, Havahart is prompt at providing solutions once notified.
Pros and Cons of Havahart 5277 Animal Repellent
Pros
Cons
- Naturally Repels – Repels nuisance animals such as birds, cats, chipmunks, deer, dogs, groundhogs, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, and squirrels
- Detects & Deters – The device releases a startling surge of water to scare animals away and conditions them to avoid the area in the future
- Motion-Activated – An infrared sensor detects animal heat and movement within 100 feet, triggering the device to spray the invader
5. ZOVENCHI Animal Repellent
If you're looking for a no-fuss animal repellent device, this one from ZOVENCHI is an excellent option as it requires little to no maintenance. Along with being easy to install, it has a sturdy build to ensure that the device won’t be destroyed by animals or bad weather.
Product Highlights
This is one of the simplest ultrasonic animal repellent devices available on the market. It's fitted with a PIR sensor to detect animal activity and emit sound waves at a high frequency, which effectively deter unwanted animals. Moreover, there's no need to find a power outlet, as the battery gets recharged by the solar panel.
Anyone will appreciate the addition of the bright light, which effectively fends off animals from your garden or lawn during nighttime.
To tell you the truth, I was skeptical about getting it as the construction looked quite cheap. Fortunately, I was wrong, as it has a rugged body with IP44 waterproofing and adequate sun protection. It's even windproof, so you don't need to be worried about sudden gusts of wind or rain.
What’s There To Like About It?
Recently, I gifted a couple of these ultrasonic devices to my daughter, and let me tell you that she was blown away by its effectiveness against squirrels. She let me know that the device stood still and sustained no damage even when it was accidentally left to witness a heavy storm.
Moreover, as the solar panel is quite sensitive, the device doesn't seem to run out of power, even on days when the sun isn't the brightest.
What's There Not To Like About It?
There's no doubt that this ultrasonic device is quite effective, thanks to the high-pitch noise output. But, I felt that its motion detection could be weak on cloudy or foggy days, leading to fewer triggers when animals are near. That's why I placed it in the fifth position below the Havahart 5277 animal repellent.
Pros and Cons of ZOVENCHI Animal Repellent
Pros
Cons
- 【Keep Pests Away】The unit emits sound waves at a frequency which is only audible to Animals. Keep cats, dogs, rodents and other unwanted pests out of your garden. Ideal for protecting lawns, bird feeders, flower beds, ponds and path ways.
- 【Solar Powered】Solar panels can effectively charge the product to maintain a long time all day head standby. On the outdoor do not have to worry about the product will need power outlet.
- 【Motion Sensor】Once animals enter the protection range, the PIR sensor starts to work, then it will emit ultrasonic waves and the red light will be turned on so that it repels the animal.
Buyers Guide
Are you still confused about which of the best animal repellents would work for your property? To help you out, I have listed some of the points that helped me narrow down the best possible options.
1. Type Of Repellents
The first thing to note is that different types of animal repellent are available on the market. At times the variant you use will also define the animals that might get deterred. Here are some of the typical ones I have come across:
A. Sprays
As you may have already guessed, these repellents need to be sprayed around the garden or suspected entry points of pests to keep them away. Most are composed of odor-based formulas that repel animals. The ingredients are often natural, so you can use the spray indoors and outdoors.
B. Pellets
Similar to the odor-based sprays, pellets may contain chemicals or natural ingredients that repel animals. You have to generously sprinkle it over your garden and apply water to activate its repelling qualities. The animals will then go away upon smelling, tasting, or touching the irritant.
C. Ultrasonic
These devices have become quite popular and are known to deter the animals by releasing ultrasonic sound waves. Most are fitted with motion sensors that pick up animal activities that trigger the sound system. Batteries or solar power are usually used to power the sensor and the speakers.
D. Water Sprinklers
The water sprinklers work similar to the ultrasonic devices, but in place of sound waves, it sprinkles water on the animals to repel them.
While picking a particular type of repellent, ensure that it has the ability to ward off the animals visiting your garden or lawn. I often gravitate towards custom-built repellents made for specific animal groups as they may show better results.
2. Indoor Or Outdoor Use
Another point that needs attention is the intended use of the repellent. I recommend using products that can be used indoors and outdoors as they are safe to use near babies or pets. While searching for spray or pellets, your safest bet would be to grab something made of safe and natural components.
And when searching for repellents for outdoor use, you should pick items with a large coverage area. Some ultrasonic and water sprinkling sprays can cover an area of more than 2,000 square feet. However, as you may have already understood, these devices are too big to be used indoors. I did find some small ultrasonic repellents for indoor use, but they don't seem to be too effective in deterring animals.
3. Ease Of Use
The last thing you want to do is get frustrated over the mechanisms of an animal repellent. That's why it's essential to check if a product is easy to use before making the final purchase. Other than going through the reviews left by past customers, you should also ensure that the product comes with proper instructions.
Moreover, if you're getting a device meant for outdoor usage, make sure it comes with sunlight and rain protection for added durability.
4. Longevity
Lastly, a point that's often overlooked by garden enthusiasts is the longevity of a repellent. In the case of sprays and pellets, you'll need to reapply them from time to time to keep the animals at bay. I prefer to create a schedule and set a reminder for reapplication so that I don't find animals having a feast on my garden beds.
One advantage of using ultrasonic or water sprinkling devices is that they don't need much upkeep. You just need to check on them occasionally to ensure that the device is running properly and repelling animals. I would highly recommend these devices to those who don't have time to reapply pellets every week.
Frequently Asked Questions
People are often surprised to know that different kinds of animal repellents are available on the market. So, naturally, the working mechanism would vary based on how the product is designed to repel the animals.
Some of the most common and effective options are odor or irritant-based repellents. The animals easily get deterred by the odd smell or the slight irritation felt from inhaling the product. Don't worry — these don't actually harm the animal as most of them are made of natural repellents like peppermint.
The ultrasonic devices are also quite popular, and they work by releasing ultrasonic sound waves after sensing the movement of intruders. You can even find motion-activated water sprinklers that can easily deter most garden pests.
You may be skeptical about using animal repellents and wondering whether they really work. The first thing to note here is that there are different kinds of repellents available on the market — one of which is the ultrasonic variant. These devices rely on ultrasonic sounds that are turned on automatically once the sensor detects the movement of animals passing by.
When introduced in a garden or lawn, ultrasonic devices can easily scare away all kinds of animals, especially rodents and birds. However, they aren't a permanent solution and may fail to keep away the animals for a long time. A better way of repelling them would be to combine forces by using an ultrasonic device and repellents that use odor or irritants.
My Final Recommendation
Before I let you in on my favorites, I recommend keeping an eye on your garden or lawn to note the kinds of animals that visit. This information will help you pick the right kind of animal repellent to minimize the activities as best as possible.
In fact, you can find various products on the market that are formulated to keep specific animals away. And if in doubt, the Bonide BND2361 Repels-All animal repellent provides the best performance for deterring different species, thanks to the unique all-natural formulation.
Alternatively, the Natural Armor animal repellent may be better for those looking for a formula that works indoors and outdoors. It’s also a highly-recommended product for those who lack time for frequent reapplications.
That’s all for today — until next time!