Someone in the apartment building next to mine puts out mothballs in the yard.

[raccoon]

I've heard of doing this to keep away snakes.

My concern is if these things are hazardous. I mean, they leave them out, and the mothballs melt in the rain, eventually. This morning I picked up a few and threw them in the trashcan and the smell really stayed on my hands.

Anyone know if these are an environmental hazard?

[HopeHoops]

1. What's wrong with snakes? Unless we're talking copperheads or something, why?

Most snakes are beneficial creatures, not problems. Vipers aren't indigenous to the N. American continent, so THEY aren't a problem.

[raccoon]

2. ITA--snakes don't bother me unless the poisonous kind are hanging around.

But lots of people freak at the sight or even the thought of ANY snake, poisonous or not.

[wysimdnwyg]

3. "Vipers aren't indigenous to the N. American continent"

They aren't? Rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths are all pit vipers.

[HopeHoops]

4. Sorry, I should have said "TRUE" vipers.

[RedCloud]

5. I pity those poor eunuchs moths!

[marzipanni]

6. They should worry about vapors, not vipers

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/57749/title/Science_%2B_the_Public__Mothballs_deserve_respect

[JCMach1]

7. isn't it for moles and gophers?

[femmocrat]

8. I thought it was to keep cats away.

:shrug:

[murielm99]

9. It is. Some people put them in their gardens. n/t