Use naphthalene to deter mammalian predators

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

0%
Certainty

10%
Harms

not assessed

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Naphthalene is a strong-smelling and potentially harmful organic compound, frequently used to deter many animals, such as moths and rodents.

Study locations

Key messages

A replicated, controlled study from the USA found that scattering naphthalene moth balls near artificial nests did not affect predation rates.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated, controlled study in July 1986 in a cord grass Spartina alterniflora marsh in South Carolina, USA (Gawlik et al. 1988) found that eggs placed in 40 abandoned red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoneiceus nests (mostly in southern red cedar Juniperus silicicola or marsh elder Iva frutescens) were as likely to be predated if six moth balls (treated with 100% naphthalene) were scattered in the vegetation within a 2 m radius the nest (50% of 20 nests predated), as if no moth balls were used (35% of 20 nests predated).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Gawlik D.E., Hostetler M.E. & Bildstein K.L. (1988) Naphthalene moth balls do not deter mammalian predators at red-winged blackbird nest. Journal of Field Ornithology, 59, 189-191.

Please cite as:

Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Bird Conservation. Pages 137-281 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

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Plant nesting cover to reduce nest predation Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
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