The efficacy of Osage oranges, often known as hedge apples, in deterring rodents is a regularly mentioned subject. These fruits, produced by the Osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera), are giant, inexperienced, and have a bumpy texture. Their measurement, starting from that of a baseball to a softball, and distinct odor lead some to imagine they act as a pure pest repellent.
The assumption of their repellent properties stems from anecdotal proof and the historic use of the Osage orange tree as a pure barrier. The dense, thorny nature of the tree was initially used to create hedges to include livestock earlier than the arrival of barbed wire. The fruit’s robust scent is considered the first mechanism for repelling rodents, disrupting their sensory navigation or in any other case creating an disagreeable surroundings. Nonetheless, scientific validation of those claims stays inconclusive.
