Ultrasound pest control, Does it work?

People have been developing ultrasound pest control devices for decades. The idea that one can keep birds, bats, rodents, and arthropod pests such as cockroaches, fleas, silverfish, and spiders from your residence is an intriguing one. It would be nice to be able to plug a device in and basically let the critters know that they don't want to go here.

Claims such as

- eliminates rodent infestations
- repels insects
- eliminates fleas on cats and dogs
- scientific testing shows effectiveness etc.

These have been seen in ads from newspapers, magazines, TV, and high tech media such as the internet and others. There seems to be no evidence to prove these claims. Through the years, the FDA has brought law suits against companies making claims about the effectiveness of many products. The FDA is also pursuing some of the manufacturers of these devices.

People at the University of Florida state “Ultrasonic pest repelling devices have repeatedly been shown to be completely useless.” and “Ultrasonic devices are frequently advertised as a non-toxic method of cockroach control. However, extensive research has shown that these devices neither kill nor repel cockroaches.”

University of Maryland states “Ultrasonic devices do not meet advertisers claims for their products.”

From the University of North Dakota “Ultrasonic treatment devices (such as ultrasonic flea collars) claimed to rid homes of pests are completely ineffective.”

There have been tests that showed that at higher frequencies, there is some measure of success in driving off rodents, however it is high enough to bother dogs and cats and humans notice that it is irritating for them as well. About the only way to use it would be if you found all the entry points, vacated the premises, drove the rodents out, and then sealed off the entry points. It doesn't look as though the technology is very useful.

The FDA is always on the lookout for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace. They have a toll-free number to file complaints, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at www.ftc.gov.




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