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What is an Ultrasonic Rodent Repeller?

Jacob Queen
Jacob Queen

An ultrasonic rodent repeller is a device designed to rid a home of rodent infestations. They rely on sounds in a frequency range that goes beyond the human hearing capacity and can only be heard by animals. According to the companies that sell these devices, the sounds produced are very difficult for rodents to tolerate. They are supposed to frighten rats and mice, eventually forcing them to leave a home. According to some pest control experts, ultrasonic devices haven’t proven all that successful in laboratory studies, but other people insist they work very well.

Sometimes people use a single ultrasonic rodent repeller, and sometimes they use several. In either case, manufacturers recommend a strategic approach to placement. The sounds from ultrasonic devices don’t travel through walls very well, so it is usually important to keep that in mind when choosing locations for them. In terms of exact placement, it is advised that people install the devices in their kitchens and any other areas where rodents were seen. Some manufacturers also recommend that people keep their cabinets and drawers open during evening hours for maximum effect.

Brown rats are a common rodent pest.
Brown rats are a common rodent pest.

People choose to use an ultrasonic rodent repeller for many different reasons. For some people, they provide a way of controlling rodents while living in better harmony with nature. These individuals often consider poisons and traps to be inhumane as methods of pest control. They might also worry that poisons could harm other animals if a poisoned rat is eaten. Others use ultrasonic devices because they find the cleanup process when dealing with dead rodents very unpleasant.

Some consider poisons and traps to be inhumane as pest control methods.
Some consider poisons and traps to be inhumane as pest control methods.

Some research has shown that the sounds produced by these devices do tend to frighten rodents, and they may even cause them to leave someone’s home. There is also research that suggests these rodents eventually get over their fear and return. Designers of these products have continued to search for tones that rodents never become accustomed to, and many claim they have found some very effective ones.

Sometimes homeowners may prefer other methods of humane rodent control over an ultrasonic rodent repeller for people who find them ineffective. One of the more popular choices is a live catch trap, but people who are afraid of rodents may not like to use them. Others may use an ultrasonic rodent repeller in combination with some other pest control method, including either live traps or other methods like snap traps and poison.

Discussion Comments

Soulfox

@Melonlity -- from what I've seen, the manufacturers of these products say they emit a tone that is too high for humans, dogs and cats to hear. If you have hamsters and guinea pigs, though, you could have a problem unless you move those pets out of listening range of those products.

To find that range and what animals could be hurt, so some research and settle on the unit that will get rid of rodents and protect all of your animals.

Melonlity

Didn't this technology originally develop as a way to get rid of bats? Bats are viewed as threatened or endangered, so it violates federal law to kill them. That means alternative methods of getting rid of them had to be developed and ultrasonics have proven effective.

One concern about these products. Are they harmful to pets? If ultrasonics will get rid of mice but chase Rover out of the house, that is not a good solution, is it?

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    • Brown rats are a common rodent pest.
      By: Ilia Shcherbakov
      Brown rats are a common rodent pest.
    • Some consider poisons and traps to be inhumane as pest control methods.
      By: mertcan
      Some consider poisons and traps to be inhumane as pest control methods.