Peppermint oil as skunk and raccoon repellent

Peppermint oil was tested as a mammal repellant in southwest Wisconsin, 2023. It was found to be ineffective in an outdoor setting against raccoons and skunks, as both of these mammals repeatedly came into direct contact with an oil-treated experimental set-up (approximately 15 mls of oil) over the course of several days. These results suggest that citrus oils are not likely to be of much value in keeping mid-sized mammalian predators away from areas in the field, including those targeted for conservation purposes.