Are you looking for the best ultrasonic deterrents for mice? Read my guide, my opinions and find out how to choose the most effective ones.
If you have a countryside or a simple garden, I’m sorry for you but… you are one of the favorite victims of these annoying rodents. In fact, mice tend to invade internal and external spaces without any restraint, because they are constantly hunting for food and safe and warm places to give birth. Unfortunately, I know the problem well enough to have opened a separate blog dedicated entirely to these animals: having a piece of land in the countryside, I have been fighting against them for years.
Well, ultrasonic rat chasers can become an effective non-lethal alternative to traps (if you don’t like the idea of killing them).
Table of Contents
Does ultrasound for mice work? And how?
Look, the operation of these devices is really very simple. These are devices equipped with an audio speaker (just like common speakers or speakers for music), only in our case the sound produced cannot be perceived by humans. The mouse chasers, in fact, produce ultrasounds whose frequency is not picked up by our eardrums, so they do not bother us.
On the contrary, these sound waves easily reach the ears of animals which, as you well know, have much more developed hearing than ours. All? No, because it always depends on the frequency along which the sound moves. In general, the ultrasonic bollards use a band ranging from 25000 Hz up to 65000 Hz, effective against all rodents, insects such as mosquitoes, ants and even moles.
This means that dogs, cats and birds will not be bothered by the aforementioned devices. Conversely, if you have rodents like guinea pigs and hamsters at home, know that these devices will end up bothering him a lot. Back to mice, does ultrasound work? Yes. The sound on this particular frequency interferes with their brain functions, sending them into total confusion: the nervous system, going into crisis, will prevent them from eating and communicating.
It is for this reason that, often, you will see them running like crazy around the house or in the garden, fiercely searching for an escape route. The instinctive priority, for them, becomes to escape and get away from the annoying source as soon as possible. Also for this reason, I advise you to leave the exit routes open, in order to allow him to escape.
How to choose ultrasonic mice chasers
1. Frequency variation
As I mentioned earlier, all ultrasonic devices work on a certain frequency band, which can sometimes be manually changed by the user. Other times, however, the device is able to vary the frequencies by itself, and I’ll explain the reason immediately: after some time, the cursed mice get used to the noise and therefore gradually regain their abilities, or go to hunting for food and calving. Consequently, a device that “varies the menu” is to be preferred, as it is more effective.
This result is guaranteed by a variable number of sonic processors: the models with 2 processors, to give you a practical example, alternate frequencies and vary them on two distinct levels, thus preventing rodents from getting used to a given wave. Those with a single processor, on the other hand, remain fixed on a certain frequency and therefore, after a short time, are ineffective due to the addiction of the mouse.
2. Power and range of sound
There are details that can make all the difference in the world, and among these we also find the power of the sound emitted, always expressed in decibels (dB). Just like with a common music speaker, the more powerful the speaker, the more the sound can spread over greater distances. Here another value comes into play such as the range, often indicated in the information sheets of the ultrasonic bollards for mice. The range or range of action usually starts from a minimum of about 120 square meters, but can also exceed 500 square meters of covered area in professional models.
3. Number of speakers
You can also buy a powerful ultrasonic mouse chaser, but be aware that the waves will not be able to pass through the walls, which will therefore act as a “buffer”. Fortunately, many manufacturers sell real packs made up of multiple devices, therefore with different “mouths of fire”. To give you an example, if you buy a set of 4 you can place one in the living room, one in the bedroom, one in the kitchen and another on the patio. In this way you will cover a much larger square footage, and you will not have to collide with the problem of walls.
4. Power supply
Online you can find various bollards that use different technologies, depending on the use for which they are designed. The classic models have a cable power supply or a plug to be connected directly to the power outlet, while the ultrasounds for outdoor mice almost always work with battery (some even have solar charging through small special cells). Consider that those for outdoors are generally more powerful, due to the need to cover a larger square footage.
5. Annoying LED lights
Several solar models designed for outdoor use integrate some LED lights that are activated by infrared sensors. In practice, they are able to detect the presence of a pest in the garden and trigger various plays of light to annoy and frighten it. Not surprisingly, they are also often used as bollards for cats and birds, although this function is not always effective. In other products, a third component is also added, in addition to ultrasounds and lights: sound alarms, also designed to scare or annoy pests.
6. Design and structure
Almost all ultrasound x mice have a simple hard plastic shell, strong enough to withstand impacts and possible gnawing attempts by mice. The rodents, when they realize that the source of the disturbance comes from the device, will in fact try to deactivate it (not all, let’s say the most courageous and seasoned specimens). It happened to me with a professional device, which fortunately withstood their attacks without problems.
Outdoor ultrasonic rat chasers are always waterproof, as opposed to simple models designed for use at home. I have already explained to you that some products are equipped with small panels for solar charging, but on the structure we need to open a separate chapter, because there is no lack of information to give. Specifically, we can also find picket bollards, to be driven into the ground.
The latter spread sound waves more effectively at a depth of a few meters, annoying not only the “underground” mice, but also moles. As for the design, some devices have a shape that resembles that of owls, or in any case of other predatory animals that mice fear a lot.
How to use ultrasound for mice
How are ultrasonic bollards used and where are they placed? As I have already explained to you, remember that sonic waves cannot pass through walls, and their effectiveness is reduced even when they “bump” against furniture, sofas, various furnishings and curtains. This means that you shouldn’t hide them, also because mice are not stupid and would notice it anyway. On the other hand, since they are used to remove them and not to capture them, you absolutely do not have this need.
My advice is to place them in an open area, in such a way as to give them the possibility to radiate the waves along the perimeter of the entire room. Secondly, I suggest (again) to buy a pack of at least 4 speakers, so that you can distribute them around the house, creating an ultrasound network capable of increasing their effectiveness. Also, and even in this case it is a “reminder”, avoid taking outdated products with a single chip, and rather opt for those with 2 distinct processors.
Let’s go back to the best location, that is, near the areas that you know the mice frequent with greater assiduity. If you have found their nest then you already have an answer, while if you still have doubts you can orient yourself by looking for the poop and residues of their passage (chewed objects, stains on the walls, stinks and so on). Finally, know that in small rooms the ultrasonic waves are more effective, because they “bounce” off the walls creating a greater reverberation of the sound.
How long does it take to take effect?
In some cases the ultrasonic mouse chasers have a very rapid effect, and yes they prove effective after just a couple of weeks. In other cases it takes more time, but on average after about 3-4 weeks you should already notice some particularly agitated movement. This is because, as I explained to you, the mice go crazy and start desperately looking for an escape route, to escape a noise that confuses them and prevents them from eating and reproducing.
In this regard, remember to leave them ways out, otherwise you will find the house invaded by crazy tops. You do not have to worry about the possible entry of other mice, as the ultrasound will keep away the new potential “hosts”.
Do ultrasounds have contraindications?
Absolutely not. As I have already anticipated, the hearing of human beings is not able to pick up the sounds transmitted on the frequencies used by these devices. Even pets such as cats and dogs would not suffer from this problem, unlike rodents such as guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits, which would be bothered by the noise. A slight noise (mostly a buzz) could be heard using the outdoor ones, which exploit more frequencies together and have a wider band, useful for driving away even cats.
In short: is it worth it?
For the rest, always remember what are the advantages of ultrasonic mice chasers. First of all they are safe for both animals and the environment: they are not poisons or traps, so they do not cause any harm to anyone (including mice). If you don’t have the stomach to kill them, even if sadly it becomes necessary in the event of an infestation, then this is the solution for you. Furthermore, consider that we are talking about rather cheap devices, with a price that is around 30 euros. In summary, they are always worth a try.
