Despite the popular belief that rodents can only squeak, screaming in a moment of pain, they are quite talkative creatures. Only they communicate mainly at frequencies inaccessible to the human ear.
This discovery is interesting not only for scientific purposes, but also has practical applications. Having understood what mice are afraid of and what signal they give, you can get rid of them by applying the knowledge gained without harming the animals.
Ultrasound in the life of rodents
Communication in this range is not a whim for animals, but a necessity. They can transmit alarm signals, exchange information, call their cubs, without fear of being heard by natural enemies.
Males, in the process of courting individuals of the opposite sex, perform real vocalizations in the ultrasonic range. Moreover, the older the animal, the larger set of sounds it uses. If a newly born mouse is capable of giving only a few signals, then an adult mouse reproduces more than two thousand.
What sound does a wounded animal make?
The loud, piercing cry of a wounded rat cannot be confused with anything. By the way, this is not the only reaction to injury. Aggressive animals may begin to hiss, and if the pain is too severe, they may become silent due to a state of shock.
Often, decorative pets receive injuries to the tail or limbs: broken paws, torn nails, cuts, splinters.
First aid will consist of treating the wound with any disinfectant. You can take hydrogen peroxide to stop the bleeding.
Which frequency ultrasounds are best at repelling rats and mice?
Observations of animals in laboratory conditions showed interesting results:
- It has been noted that different species of rodents emit repellent ultrasounds at different frequencies. For example, when a rat detects danger, it emits a signal within the range of 32–33 kHz, and when experiencing painful sensations – 25–28 kHz. Mice prefer higher ranges, sometimes reaching 96 kHz. That is, it is impossible to scare off all rodents at once with the same ultrasound.
- Rodents learn quickly. If at first mice are afraid of a certain frequency, then, not detecting a risk to life, they gradually get used to it and stop reacting.
Repeller
Squeak
With the help of a piercing loud squeak, the animal tries to convey its fear or pain. Inspect the area around the cage and analyze what might have frightened your pet. It is likely that the rat could hear the cat or the hum of the vacuum cleaner from the next room.
If the rat does not live alone in the cage, put it away. Inspect carefully for bites and injuries. If there are no visible signs of damage on the body, and the pet does not calm down and continues to squeak for a long time, contact your veterinarian immediately. Your pet may experience severe pain due to internal injuries.
A quiet, barely audible squeak from stroking means that the rodent enjoys communicating with the owner.
An abrupt loud squeak when pulled out of the cage signals that the pet is not in the mood to contact a person.
How to scare away rodents using sound?
This is not to say that animals are only afraid of high frequencies. There are many other things that worry them.
Enemies of rodents try to behave very quietly before attacking. Therefore, the rustle, the sound that the wings of a bird of prey make, scares away mice no less effectively. It is pointless to use this to get rid of harmful animals, since in this case they tend to hide in minks.
Shouting, unexpectedly playing loud music, and unfamiliar sounds also scare away rats. True, this does not last long, since, having understood what is happening, they begin to treat them indifferently.
Attention! On an instinctive level, rats and mice tend to stay away from the place where the death cries of their relatives are heard.
To scare rodents away from home, it is most effective to use ultrasound, since it is not perceived by the human ear and does not cause additional inconvenience. Moreover, there is now a large selection of models on the market in different price categories.
Why are bats dangerous?
Based on the characteristics of the diet of bats, it is difficult to classify them as a pest. After all, the animal mainly feasts on those insects that harm crops and gardens. In this regard, bats even benefit summer residents and gardeners.
But these mammals also have negative factors that can be called dangerous:
- Smell and dirt . Bats actively fill their habitat with excrement, which depletes the stench.
- Carrier of infections . Bats are carriers of many dangerous infectious diseases.
- Allergy . Animal feces contain a lot of pathogenic microorganisms that provoke the development of serious allergic reactions. And constantly inhaled air containing microparticles of bat waste can cause histoplasmosis, a lung infection.
- Damage to home . Mice, having settled in the attics of houses, can chew through the waterproofing and spoil the insulation.
- If bitten, there is a risk of contracting rabies.
Can you use a computer or phone to repel rodents?
On the Internet, when asked “sounds that repel mice,” the search engine returns many sites offering to download audio files. And nowhere is it mentioned that the speakers of modern phones and computer speakers are not designed to reproduce ultrasound.
Attention! Speakers were made for humans, and they cannot reproduce high frequencies correctly.
It’s also good if, when downloading, a person receives a dummy or an unpleasant sound. There is a high risk of infecting your phone or laptop with a virus.
Important Tips
Summer residents who are learning how to get rid of bats in their dachas sometimes make serious mistakes when fighting bats.
Failure to comply with safety precautions can lead to unpleasant consequences:
Do not pick up bats with your bare hands
Chiropterans are not aggressive, but when frightened, they can bite a person. The sharp teeth of animals leave wounds that take a long time to heal and can become infected. To remove the animal from its perch, use a fishing landing net with a mesh of small cells.
If a bat bites you, wash the wound with running water and laundry soap for 10-15 minutes. Then treat the bite site with iodine, apply a bandage and go to the medical center.
You cannot leave traces of animals after they have been expelled.
Remains of excrement, flakes of skin and fur can become a source of infection and a breeding ground for parasites. Be sure to thoroughly sanitize these areas.
The procedure for expelling bats from their favorite territories cannot be called quick and easy. Stubborn animals are extremely reluctant to leave their usual habitats. Therefore, arm yourself with patience and perseverance. And the proper use of tips that tell you how to get rid of bats in your country house will guarantee a good and long-lasting result.
Types of rat and mouse repellers
The variety of models and wide price range for mouse and rat repellers causes confusion for many people. The choice falls on the model that the sales consultant recommends. At the same time, all the nuances of operation and types of rodents are not always taken into account. Hence the ineffectiveness of use. Money wasted.
To choose the most suitable device, you need to know that they are divided by type of impact:
- to ultrasonic;
- to electromagnetic;
- to combined ones.
Depending on the power source, they can be connected to the mains, battery-powered, solar-powered, or combined.
Ultrasonic devices
Such models are more suitable for open spaces and rooms without partitions, since any obstacle dampens sound waves, and the mouse and rat repeller will work idle.
Ultrasonic device
Equipment configured to emit ultrasound at 20–70 kHz will make the animals nervous and quickly look for another shelter, but humans cannot hear the vibrations emitted by the device.
Adaptation of rodents to an irritating factor can be avoided if the generator allows you to change the frequency of the sound.
The device that drives away rats and mice is placed in the center of the room on a raised platform and left to work for a day. After a 12-hour break they turn it on again. With this repeller mode, the rodents disappear in 2–3 weeks.
Electromagnetic devices
These devices induce magnetic pulses that change the natural electromagnetic background in a limited area. Animals react very sensitively to such things and begin to panic. In the first days of operation of the repeller, rodents become more active, but after a week they begin to leave in search of a more favorable place to live.
The repeller can be attached to the wall. Any metal object nearby will contribute to the propagation of electromagnetic waves.
Combination devices
Combined rat and mouse repellers combine the advantages of ultrasonic and electromagnetic devices. By creating two negative factors for animals at once, they are guaranteed to force rodents to leave the premises. The only disadvantage of these devices is their higher price.
Preventive actions
Once bats have been expelled, it is important to prevent them from returning. For this, preventive measures are necessary. Namely:
- completely clear the areas of excrement, debris and dirt left by bats and thoroughly disinfect these areas;
- tightly seal all cracks and holes in the attic, under the roof and in the basement;
- plaster the attic and repair the roof of the house;
- If the holes cannot be sealed, cover them with fiberglass or mesh;
- hang balls made of foil; in the wind they create noise that will scare away mice;
- Provide basements and attics with lighting.
What to look for when choosing?
To get rid of mice and rats forever, when choosing a repeller, you need to take into account all the important factors that affect the effectiveness of its operation. Before buying, you need to answer yourself a few questions:
- Where will the equipment be used? An electromagnetic device is more suitable for home use. Ultrasonic can be used in one room or cellar. But it works well in the area if trees and bushes do not interfere with the passage of the sound wave. Universal repellers can be used both indoors and outdoors. Particular attention should be paid to the range of action. If the room is larger than the device declared in the passport, you will have to buy several pieces.
- Will there be people in the house while the repeller is operating? At a sound pressure of 110–130 dB, the animals are more likely to leave the inhabited territory, but humans will also feel uncomfortable.
- Are there outlets everywhere to connect to the electrical grid? If you have to pull an extension cord, then perhaps devices with an autonomous type of power supply will be more convenient.
When to start expulsion
Considering that bats are listed in the Red Book, killing them is prohibited. The only way to get rid of bats at the dacha is to “smoke out” the animals from their favorite places. But it is necessary to start such activities only at a certain time.
The following periods will be an exception:
- Feeding offspring . Usually mice mate in the fall, and 1-2 cubs appear in the spring. During the feeding period, the female does not leave the habitat, and the small animals cannot fly out of the hole on their own.
- Winter . It is also an unfavorable period for the expulsion of bats. In winter, these animals hibernate; if they are awakened and driven out, they may die.
Expert opinion
Mityuk Stefania Bogdanovna
The best time to expel bats is the beginning of the autumn period.
Before developing a plan to combat animals, determine their habitats. This is not difficult to do - using the droppings that mice leave in large quantities. Animal excrement is dark brown in color with shiny inclusions (these are the remains of the shells of large beetles). Chiropteran droppings cannot be confused with mice or rats. Be sure to mark all the passages through which the animals enter their habitat. Keep in mind that nimble mice can get into holes even 1.5 cm wide.
Why do ultrasonic devices sometimes not work?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to check the parameters of the repeller declared by the manufacturer without special instruments. Therefore, a lot of fakes have appeared on the market. The low price compared to similar models from other companies should cause caution.
In addition, the incorrectly defined coverage area of the equipment plays a role. It should be slightly larger than the area of the house.
Mouse
An incorrectly chosen location for the repeller can make the purchase pointless. Any obstacle will interfere with the passage of sound waves. Sometimes the way out of the situation is to purchase several, less powerful devices.
Is ultrasound safe for humans and pets?
Although the human ear cannot detect high-frequency sounds, powerful devices can lead to headaches and poor health. Therefore, it is not recommended to install them in rooms where people are constantly present.
Hamsters and guinea pigs hear ultrasound very well, so they need to be relocated while the equipment is operating. Cats and dogs are also susceptible to the negative influences emanating from the repeller. Observing the behavior of animals will tell you whether it is worth turning on the device in their presence.
