Review: Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent

Like many folks these days, we're always on the lookout for safer alternatives to traditional products—we want a healthier result for us, our pets, and the environment. So when it came time to deal with mouse problems, we held off on the usual poison and fatal mousetraps, instead giving EarthKind's Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent ($26 for a 4-pack) a try. Made with balsam fir oil, a natural deterrent, it's safe to handle and inhale. Two different scenarios; same product. Here's what we found out.

A wall tent in the woods is a wonderful weekend escape—until the critters come, that is. From bears to belligerent birds, my wife and I dealt with all kinds of wildlife problems. But the mice were the worst, chewing up everything they could find: blankets, books, clothes, you name it. The Fresh Cab pouches, while they didn't eliminate every intrusion, definitely reduced the volume of rummaging rodents. After placing pouches at intervals along the floor, I returned a few weeks later to find a few mouse droppings, but almost no damage—just a nibble here & there. The Fresh Cab repellent isn't foolproof, but it also didn't result in any dead mice, nor did I have to worry about our dog or another animal getting into a trap or poison. All in all, a huge improvement. —Mike