Rodents and Ultrasonic Devices
Do they work
Matt Pastore
Using an ultrasonic rodent deterrent to control rats and mice has become quite popular. The pest control companies who manufacture these ultrasonic devices claim that their devices produce ultrasonic noise so aversive to pests (including rodents) that it drives the pests away. These ultrasonic devices are appealing to consumers because they are silent to human ears and do not involve traps or poison. Many studies have been done which evaluating the effectiveness of ultrasonic rodent devices. Most of these studies state that using an ultrasonic device as a rat deterrent or as a mouse deterrent, are usually found to be ineffective.
Whether roaches, mosquitoes, rats or mice the two traditional management methods of choice are poison or trapping. You still have to buy the lethal products, figure out how to use them, decide where to place them and manage not to harm yourself in the process. No wonder that gizmos claiming to “repel pests with ultrasonic waves” gain instant attention if you are plagued with household invaders.
Do this ultrasonic rodent deterrent drive away pests The scientific studies done conclude that they are not effective. Controlled studies have shown that ultrasonic pest repellers are ineffective at driving away wild rats and other pests. There are numerous studies which you can read online which outline this topic.
The reason ultrasonic devices don’t repel animals, even though they can hear sounds we can’t, is that ultrasound does not pack much energy. A sofa, a kitchen cabinet or a wall block almost all of the sound waves. Just as you might quickly roll up your car window when an ambulance howls past, a mouse or rat can duck behind a solid object to hide from loud noise. When food, water and shelter are present, a rodent can easily find different pathways that avoid the ultrasonic sound waves.
Manufacturers of these devices tell a different story – They say that Non-Repetitive Sound Waves- High frequency sound waves emit a non-repetitive pattern to repel rodents and prevent them from invading your home. With over 80 oscillations per second, they use a jackhammer-like sound to create intense auditory stress for rodents. This type of control is a classic animal behavior modification technique. The complex sound waves emitted do not allow rodents to habituate to the sound. These ultrasonic devices have the ability to provide long-term reductions in rodent populations by creating a ‘rodent-unfriendly’ environment that discourages rodent infestations.
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