The lure of a cozy, safe home with a regular food supply has always been attractive to mice.
With new litters of up to seven being produced (at most) every five weeks, you can quickly have a thriving colony of mice running riot in your home.
Mice are very resourceful, setting up comfy little nests made of shredded paper, cardboard, fabric, polythene, or even wood shavings in a wall cavity, roof space, or amongst boxes stored in your cupboards.
In the good old days setting a baited trap that snapped shut with frightening speed, employing a cat, or using hazardous poisons were the only options for dealing with a mice infestation. Each method resulted in the unpleasant task of removing dead bodies.
Thankfully, there is now the choice of scaring the crafty little mice away to someone else’s home using a humane ultrasonic repeller that’s perfectly safe to leave around your house or business.
But how does an ultrasonic mice repellent work and more importantly, does it actually bring positive results?
Ultrasonic Mice Repellent – What are They?
Using sound waves to deter mice and other pests led to the first ultrasonic mouse repeller being invented in 1962.
They didn’t start to become commercially popular until the late nineteen-eighties, but now there is an extensive range of single or multiple units to choose from.
They are generally slim plastic units of around three or four inches that need no more attention than simply plugging into an electricity socket.
Mice repellers are surprisingly inexpensive to purchase and are very low in power consumption, making them economical to run.
Using an ultrasonic deterrent is a non-toxic, odorless, eco-friendly solution that’s convenient, easy to use and is completely safe to install where there are small children running about.
And as a bonus, an ultrasonic repeller leaves you with a clear conscience about harming cute little creatures.
How Do Ultrasonic Mice Repellents Work?
The units emit high-frequency sound waves, electromagnetic, or a combination of the two. Mice have intensely sharp hearing, so the units usually range from around 35 Hz to 100 kHz.
Fortunately, you won’t hear it yourself as the human ear distinguishes sounds at a much lower pitch from around 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Even though cats and dogs have much more acute hearing than ourselves, reaching upper limits of approximately 65 kHz and 45 kHz, respectively, mice still have a higher sensitivity.
However, if you have pets such as rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, or even lizards, they might be equally mad by the noise with no means of escaping it unless you take great care to ensure they are well out of the unit’s range.
If you are concerned about the well-being of any of your pets seek the advice of a vet before using your ultrasonic mouse repeller.
How Do You Use an Ultrasonic Mouse Repeller?
Using a repeller couldn’t be simpler. It must be plugged into an electricity socket about ten to thirty inches above the floor to deter mice.
It would be best to place it in a clear space with no obstructions, such as furniture that could block the transmitted signal from reaching the entire room.
The signals can often reach a distance of around 1,600 square feet but cannot go through walls.
By contrast, electromagnetic waves can pass through blockages and walls. For the best results against your growing army of mice, you will probably need to install a unit in every room of your home.
Although mice are more active at night, the repeller must be switched continuously to take effect.
Do They Kill Mice?
An ultrasonic repeller doesn’t kill the mice outright, but it makes them uncomfortable and can upset their nervous systems.
The theory behind the devices is that the sound waves will trigger sensations of nausea, symptoms of headaches, and cause disorientation.
The result of the ultrasonic effects should be severe enough to convince the mice that your home is an unpleasant place to be.
How Effective are Ultrasonic Mice Repellent Devices?
When first activated, the sound waves can startle the mice, but if your home is a cozy spot to stay in, they’ll be determined to be tough and continue to go about their business in the hope that the noise is only temporary.
Many units claim that after approximately two weeks of continuous use, the mice will finally get the message and begin to relocate elsewhere. After another week or two, your home should no longer rattle to the patter of tiny paws scurrying in your attic.
However, similar to our reactions against a neighbor’s unceasing burglar or car alarm, there are claims that the crafty mice can get used to making noise or devise new routes to your larder that take them around the unit’s range.
To combat this behavior, many repeller units have more than one wave of sound and use alternating frequencies to prevent the mice from adapting to the constant noise.
FAQs
Do ultrasonic pest repellers work on mice?
Many users of such mice repellers claim to experience a drastic reduction in mouse activity within a few weeks. Every home can have awkward spots that make it difficult for the sound waves to reach the mice, but placing units near obvious food sources could eventually have the desired effect.
Do ultrasonic devices get rid of mice?
With perseverance, manufacturers confidently claim that your mouse problem should have a satisfactory outcome. However, suppose you stop using the unit. In that case, there is nothing to stop a new family of mice from taking up residence, mainly if you’ve forgotten to seal up any tiny gaps in the brickwork or around pipes.
How long do ultrasonic pest repellers last?
Many units have a warranty lasting up to three years, so your ultrasonic mouse repeller should provide plenty of good services.
As a bonus, all ultrasonic repeller units state they are suitable for scaring other pests such as spiders, fleas, and cockroaches.
The unit should be plugged into a socket between thirty and fifty inches above the floor to deter pests such as gnats and houseflies. Therefore multipurpose units can always be useful even after your mice have left.
Conclusion
Having your home invaded by a plague of mice can be worrying as they can spread diseases such as hantavirus as they scamper about your food and kitchen utensils.
If you don’t take action the number of mice is almost guaranteed to increase.
Using an ultrasonic mouse repeller is an uncomplicated, hygienic method of sending them scurrying out of doors to find a new home that isn’t constantly ringing with noise.
And with inexpensive units, you’ve got nothing to lose except your mice!
My neighbor is using ultrasonic pet repellent. IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY!
The sound IS NOT ABOVE HUMAN HEARING!
How do I stop him?
Nobody really tested the affect on human hearing!
Thanks for getting in touch! Is there any way you can find out which device your neighbor is using?