The purported means of the fruit of the Osage orange tree to repel rodents, particularly mice, is a standard anecdotal declare. The fruit, typically known as “hedge apples,” is massive, inexperienced, and emits a definite odor. The assumption is that this odor incorporates compounds which might be aversive to mice, thus driving them away from areas the place the fruit is positioned.
This use of the Osage orange fruit as a rodent deterrent stems from people cures and observations. The historic context entails reliance on available, pure options for pest management, significantly in rural areas. The attraction of such a way lies in its perceived simplicity, low price, and avoidance of probably dangerous chemical alternate options. Advantages, if confirmed efficient, would come with decreased rodent populations in properties and gardens with out the necessity for traps or poisons.