Rodents take shelter in any building containing a food and water source. Although the sighting of a single mouse or rat may not cause alarm, it’s a sign that a more significant problem is lurking out of plain view. Commercial pest control products are readily available for rodent control, and some products rely on ultrasonic sound to drive away the pests. Manufacturers of the devices claim their products are more humane and do not rely on toxic pesticides or traps. However, researchers have found little evidence that ultrasonic devices are effective for pest control.

How Do Electronic Devices Work?

Electronic rodent repellents produce high-frequency sounds that are unpleasant to rodents and other pests. You can find several different styles and price ranges for the products. Some models plug into the wall, and others are battery or solar-powered. Humans cannot hear the ultrasonic sounds, and they’re designed only to target the pest’s audible range. Although some consumers are concerned that the sounds could harm or annoy their pets, research studies have shown the sounds to have little or no effect on cats and dogs.

Insects, rodents and other animals have different audible spectrums, but some electronic repellents claim to work on multiple pests. Some of the creatures the products claim to deter include:

• Mice
• Rats
• Roaches
• Ants
• Birds
• Deer
• Rabbits

Electronic repellants are intended to make an environment unlivable for rodents by constantly assaulting the animals with sound waves. In a laboratory setting, scientists have found that high levels of ultrasonic sounds can affect a rodent’s behaviour and breeding habits, but the machines used in the experiments are far more powerful than the commercial devices. Although companies have made bold claims concerning the effectiveness of sonic repellents, there is no evidence to support their theories. In fact, some products have the opposite effect on their targets.

Unhappy consumers have posted several online photos of animals walking by the devices without appearing to be bothered by the sound. Bird repellant devices are sometimes used as a perch for birds, and the sonic waves do not seem to keep the creatures from nesting in bushes or feeding on fruit trees.

Why Do Customers Buy Ultrasonic Devices If They’re Ineffective?

The market for DIY pest control products has grown dramatically in the last twenty years, and manufacturers use clever advertising campaigns to promote their products. Although using professional pest control services is the most effective way to eradicate pests and prevent future infestations, consumers often look for the cheapest and simplest solution to their problems. When people browse for rodent control devices online, they’re attracted to ultrasonic devices because they’re simple to operate, require minimal power to function and claim to be a humane alternative to traps or poison.

Sonic noise from the devices does not appear to harm the pests, but it does not discourage them from feeding, reproducing or building nests either. A plug-in repellant that forces rodents and insects out of your property seems too good to be true, and according to multiple scientific studies, it is.

How Truly Nolen Can Help

You have several options for handling a rodent problem, but electronic repellants and other DIY products are unlikely to eradicate nests or prevent further outbreaks. Rats and mice destroy property, carry disease and contaminate food supplies. Although they seem small and harmless, they can bite and scratch you if you approach their nests. Untrained residents take an enormous risk when they try to remove or kill the rodents.

At Truly Nolen, our skilled team is trained to remove house mice, roof rats and Norway rats. Rodents are more active and destructive in the warmer months, but our Four Seasons program protects your home all year. Contact us for an evaluation today.