Critters in your yard driving you crazy? Many homeowners resort to tactics like mothballs, ammonia-soaked rags, and even human urine to deter pesky animals. But do these DIY remedies actually work?
If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer: Research shows human urine can be effective at keeping some animals like deer, rabbits, and groundhogs away, but it must be applied correctly. It may also attract other unwanted animals.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using human urine as an animal repellent. We examine which species it works on, proper application techniques, downsides to be aware of, plus alternative solutions you can try for a people and pet-friendly yard.
Understanding Animal Behavior
Territory Marking in the Animal Kingdom
Many animals in the wild use scent marking to establish territories and convey information. Canines like wolves and coyotes commonly urine mark their territory to communicate ownership and warn intruders. Large cats like lions also urine spray as a territorial marker.
Bears scrape trees with their claws to leave visual and olfactory cues about their presence. Elephants scatter dung piles to delineate the boundaries of their range. Even small rodents like mice and voles deposit specialized scent glands and urine as “keep out” signs to other animals.
How Scent Impacts Animals
For animals, scent provides a vital source of information about other creatures in their ecosystem. Species rely heavily on their acute sense of smell to identify predators, locate mating partners, recognize offspring, and find food sources.
An animal’s urine and feces can communicate age, health, dominance status, and reproductive readiness. Strong or unpleasant odors quickly trigger instinctual avoidance behaviors in many species. Animals have very different sensory perceptions than humans – scents we may barely notice can provoke dramatic reactions in wildlife.
Species Known to Avoid Human Scent
Many wild animals treat human scent as a warning sign and will avoid areas marked by people. For example:
- Deer, elk, and moose tend to flee from the smell of human urine and sweat. Hunters sometimes use commercial scent masking products to hide their odor while stalking timid game animals.
- Bears have an excellent sense of smell and will detour around campsites and trails that carry human odors. Backcountry hikers are often advised to avoid alarming bears by properly storing food and packing out all trash.
- Coyotes and foxes typically steer clear of areas marked by human territorial scent markers. Urinating around chicken coops or gardens can deter nocturnal raids by wild canines.
In essence, the scent of human pee signals to wildlife that people have invaded and claimed an area. To avoid contact and confrontation, many animal species give a wide berth to zones clearly imprinted with human odor molecules.
Effectiveness of Human Urine as Repellent
Research on Urine as Deer and Rabbit Repellent
Several scientific studies have examined the potential of human urine to act as an animal repellent, particularly for deer and rabbits. A key 2003 study found that plots treated with aged human urine had 80% less deer browsing damage compared to untreated plots.
The urine appeared to act as a territorial marking, triggering avoidance behavior in deer. Follow up research in 2005 confirmed these findings and recommended applying urine around the perimeter of crops to create an invisible fence.
However, results seem to depend on using male urine exclusively, as female or mixed gender urine has not shown the same deterrent effects. Some anecdotal reports also support using urine to deter rabbits from gardens, though there is less formal research in this area.
Anecdotal Accounts of Urine Deterring Other Animals
Beyond scientific studies on deer and rabbits, there are many anecdotal reports of hikers, campers, and gardeners using human urine to keep away animals like rodents, cats, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, and even bears.
The idea is that the strong scent of urine signals to animals that a predator or competitor has marked this area as their territory. This triggers the animals’ natural survival instinct to avoid the marked areas.
However, most of these accounts are based on personal experiences rather than controlled testing. And effectiveness likely depends on many factors like proper application around key entry points, using only male urine, reapplying frequently, and whether target animals have existing food or habitat motivations.
Still, the prevalence of these accounts suggests urine may have broad potential as a humane DIY wildlife deterrent.
Factors Impacting Efficacy
Research and anecdotal evidence point to several factors that influence how effective human urine may be in repelling animals:
- Using only fresh male human urine provides the strongest scent markers, as female urine lacks sufficient territorial pheromones.
- Aged urine seems more effective than fresh, as the chemicals that trigger territorial avoidance need time to develop.
- Frequent reapplication around key entry points creates a stronger deterrence zone.
- Application methods like spraying or dribbling along the perimeter works better than pooling in one spot.
- Effectiveness diminishes over time as urine scent fades, requiring ongoing reapplication.
- Animal motivations like hunger or habitat needs may still override urine deterrence and lead to some breakthroughs.
Proper Application of Urine
Where and How Often to Apply Urine
When applying human urine to deter animals, focus on areas where they tend to gather or travel frequently, such as around the perimeter of your yard, gardens, or farm crops. You’ll achieve optimal results by reapplying fresh urine every 2-3 days during peak seasons when animals are most active.
Targeting deer trails, squirrel nests, mole tunnels, and other spots where animals lurk will enhance effectiveness.
Use Fresh Urine Each Time
For best outcomes, only use recently produced urine, preferably within the last 0-6 hours. The nitrogen and salts in fresh pee have not yet broken down or dissipated, allowing for stronger scent marking. Aged urine loses its potent smell and ability to act as an animal repellent over time.
Carry a sealable collection container when outside working or relaxing to gather urine and apply it promptly around areas needing protection.
Downsides of Using Urine as Repellent
Health Risks of Urine
There are some potential health hazards associated with using human urine as an animal repellent. Urine can contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites that may cause illnesses if it comes into contact with food crops or water sources (MSU Extension).
Diseases that can potentially be transmitted through urine include typhoid, paratyphoid, streptococcal infections, leptospirosis, and schistosomiasis.
There is also a risk from chemical contaminants if medications and other substances have been processed through the body. Fertilizing with urine from someone undergoing chemotherapy could transfer trace amounts of the drugs to plant tissues.
Other Animals Attracted to Smell
The strong scent of urine may not repel all species. In fact, some animals seem to be drawn to the smell of urine for various reasons. Carnivores like coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and feral cats may associate urine scent with prey animals and investigate the area looking for a meal.
Rodents like rats and mice may also be attracted to areas marked by urine. The salts and minerals contained in urine can serve as essential nutrients for these pests. And urine residues can help mask human smells that these animals typically avoid.
Unpleasant Odors
One of the major complaints about using urine as a DIY pest deterrent is that it causes unpleasant odors, especially during hot weather. The stench from even small amounts of stagnant urine can be quite pungent and foul-smelling (ammonia smell is strong and unpleasant).
Neighbors may object to persistent bad smells drifting onto their property.
There are also aesthetic issues to consider when liberally applying human waste products around a home landscape. Most homeowners do not want their lawn and garden areas permeated with the smell of stale pee.
The benefits of deterring a few nuisance critters generally do not outweigh dealing with rank odors.
Alternative Animal Deterrent Options
Physical Barriers
Installing physical barriers like fences, nets, or wires can be an effective way to keep unwanted animals out of certain areas (The Spruce). These prevent access either vertically or horizontally. Popular options are wire mesh fences often used to protect vegetable gardens.
Another great choice is electric fencing that gives animals a safe but memorable shock if they try to pass through. Such fences require little maintenance compared to traditional wood or wire barriers. When set up properly around the desired perimeter, physical barriers provide robust protection.
Commercial Repellents
There are various commercial repellents formulated to deter specific kinds of animals. These use either smells unpleasant to animals or tactile discomfort to convince them to avoid treated areas. According to pest control company Orkin, popular ingredients in repellents are garlic, dried blood meal, predator urine, rotten eggs, pepper derivatives, and mustard oil (Orkin).
Manufacturers optimize combinations of these elements based on the target animal’s sensitivity. For example, deer or rabbit repellents work best with rotten egg or garlic smells. Always check the product description to ensure effectiveness for the unwanted visitor.
When applied properly around landscaping or building perimeters, these liquid or granule formulas stop animal intrusions.
Tactile Repellents
There are interesting tactile or touch-based options to repel certain animals. These work by creating unpleasant sensations rather than smells to condition avoidance. A popular one is plastic carpet runner spikes that can line fence tops or high-traffic areas (Grown Up Crafts).
Pests like squirrels, cats, or birds dislike walking across these. Another invention is ScareCrow Sprinklers that spray water when triggered by animal motions (Scat Mat). Strategically installed around gardens or entry points, they soon drive away most intruders seeking dry shelter or comfort.
For burrowing animals, laying down chicken wire, large rocks, or pine cones in holes or dug out areas discourages revisiting. Tactile repellents leverage discomfort to teach wildlife to avoid inconvenient areas.
Conclusion
Before peeing all over your prized petunias, carefully consider if human urine is right for your needs. Applied properly and frequently, it can discourage deer, rabbits, groundhogs and other critters sensitive to the scent of humans.
But urine has downsides too—it can pose health risks, smell bad, and even attract other unwanted animals.
Using physical barriers, commercial or DIY repellent sprays, and tactile deterrents can provide animal and people-friendly protection for gardens and yards. But if you find the deer are still helping themselves at the salad bar, a perimeter pee patrol may be your next best bet for keeping animals out of designated areas.
