Tulsa Pest control are constantly asked if those plug in the wall sonic, ultrasonic, electromagnetic etc devices really work.
The manufacturers and retailers all claim they do work. They allege that feral rats and mice will pack up and leave, yet it will cause no harm or bother domestic cats and dogs (or pet rats and mice for that matter) . What marvelously clever devices that know how to frighten and annoy bothersome pests but recognize our beloved pets and leave them alone!
Cockroaches do initially respond to electronic pest control devices by becoming slightly agitated and move around more than usual, but there has never been any evidence to support that they endeavour to escape from the sound waves. These observations include devices that emit uniform frequency as well as changing and pulsing frequencies of ultrasound.
Most pest controllers are able to tell of personal experiences where cockroaches have been found clustered around these devices, seeking out the warmth they generate.
Rodents merely adjust to the ultrasound (or any new sound) and eventually will ignore it. At best, ultrasonic waves have only a partial or temporary effect on rodents.
The University of Newcastle (Australia) and many USA universities have studied and flatly rejected ultrasonic sound as a practical means of rodent control. Ultrasound has not been shown to drive rodents from buildings or areas, nor has it been proven to cause above normal mortality in rodent populations.
Some people that have used them claim that they work for them, so it cannot rightfully be said that the devices should never be used, but all the research evidence points toward these devices not being worth the money, time, or effort.
Tests of commercial ultrasonic devices have indicated that rodents may be repelled from the immediate area of the ultrasound device for a few minutes, perhaps even up to a few days, but the rodents will nearly always return and resume normal activities. Other tests have shown that the degree of repellency depends on the frequency, intensity, and the pre-existing condition of the rodent infestation. The intensity of such sounds is thought to be so great that damage to humans and domestic animals would also be likely. Commercial ultrasonic pest control devices do not produce sounds of such intensity.
Most television adverts selling these products adopt scare tactics. Usually they quote data on the labels of pesticides containers etc. Clearly the data is from agricultural products intended for outdoor use, and certainly from no product approved for interior domestic use. Most advertising focuses on the “Green” conscience that most of us have, but that does not prove that these devices work. No firm who produces this type of product is able to produce any respected university based test results that support the notion that the products work.
Another Aspect
Danger of Fire
Fire authorities are forever warning us not to leave appliances such as microwaves, toasters etc plugged in and switched on. They even advise us not to leave televisions and DVD players left in “Stand by” mode due to the increased dangers of fire due to overheating and malfunction. Insect and Rodent repelling devices are no safer or less likely to cause a household fire.
Global Warming
With more information at hand, we now understand that unnecessarily using electricity contributes to global warming. Sure these devices use just a small amount of electricity, but multiplied by the ten of thousands sold, it all adds up. Electricity consumption necessarily causes an increase of carbon dioxide, and wasted electricity merely adds to the “carbon foot print” we will leave behind.
It would be exceptionally difficult to find any pest controller anywhere throughout the world who gives any credibility to these “so called” pest repelling devices. If we believed they worked, we would certainly be offering them to our clients.
