Last year I had a mouse make a home in my garaged car. I want to use a multi faceted approach to get rid of any future problems. One thing I am thinking about adding is an ultrasonic rodent deterring device that plugs into an outlet much like a night light. Does anyone have any experience with them?
Any recommendations for ultrasonic rodent control ?
- Thread starter walterjay
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Tried one some 20 years ago and saw no advantage. Caught the same number of mice in the fall with or without it.
Mice and rats are nothing if not adaptable. Those noise generators don't help in my experience.
Victor Brand mouse traps instead.
Victor Brand mouse traps instead.
The problem with them is how can you know if they're actually working? I guess if you never have another rodent occurrence in the area, that might be a hint, but how do you verify it 100%.
I've used used poison blocks, but had to stop because one of the mice carried it out into my main backyard and my dog brought it up to the patio and dropped it.
I moved on to the safe boxes that contain bait, but I haven't seen a whole lot of activity inside of them. The mice do like to perch on top of them in the middle of the night to survey their territory.
I attempted to use things like wolf urine and other things that they allegedly dislike the smell of. Mint was one of them. I soaked some cotton pads in "mouse repellent" mint solution and put them on top of my generator under a cover, along with a mesh bag full of mothballs . A rat used the pad to make a nest in the center of the generator.
The most effective thing I've used is large glue traps underneath large objects where it's very dark, but they need to be monitored frequently and disposed of before decomposition starts. They don't work very well out of the open. I have camera footage of rats sitting above them, looking down at them, seemingly knowing what they are and not coming down.
Best of luck to you. I had to fix $900 worth of wiring damage on my Canyon a few years ago ago thanks to the little @#$&!.
The YouTube's says that a mixture of corn meal and baking soda will kill mice and rats. When I've put it out where I knew there was activity, I could see that they were getting into it. I don't know if it killed any of them or not, though.
Plus 1 on the Victor Brand traps, best bang for the buck, pardon the pun. The home we lived in for 25 years had an unfinished basement, and attic. We had mice for maybe the first 10 years until we found signs of a snake (sheded skin in attic) Turned out to be a rat snake She and her progeny kept the mouse population down to near zero. They were welcomed family members as much as our dogs. It's a real simple equation, where there is a food source, the rat snakes will be there.
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If that worked, it is based on the principle that rodents cannot regurgitate. They eat the mixture, the baking soda produces gas when exposed to stomach acid, and ka-blooey.
I never heard of that recipe and wonder if it is legitimate. Under this same principle (stomach gas), we use a commercial zinc phosphide pellet for voles (not moles), but it is a restricted use pesticide only available to certified applicators.
There are commercial peppermint oil products to repel rodents in vehicles (deterrent, not lethal).
Owen Lucas
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I tried the ultrasonic approach along with glue traps, victor trap, and bait blocks. The glue traps got them and this was with an ultrasonic nightlight running at the same time. I got it at HD for $20 2 pack.
From what I’ve read, these consumer grade ultrasonic speaker don’t work as the are not strong enough to deter a mouse if there is food around.
From what I’ve read, these consumer grade ultrasonic speaker don’t work as the are not strong enough to deter a mouse if there is food around.
Helpful hint:
When using bait blocks outside, you NEVER just scatter them around the yard as other animals WILL eat them.
You should ALWAYS use the bait stations (only mice can get inside).
A professional Exterminator will ALWAYS use bait stations.
My new hobby is killing the mice coming from the fields.
Best bait is:
1) peanut-butter flavor blocks (not the apple flavor)
https://www.amazon.com/Eaton-704-PN-Rodenticide-Anticoagulant-Peanut/dp/B00DLKGD3Y/ref=sr_1_14?
2) De-con
https://www.amazon.com/Refillable-Corner-Poison-Station-Refills/dp/B016TQMQZU/ref=sr_1_1?
De-con - I throw away the bait station (made for the smallest of mice) included with the bait and buy something like these
https://www.amazon.com/Eaton-902R-Loader-Bait-Station/dp/B084WN1K1S/ref=sr_1_5?
Only use Glue Traps INSIDE your garage to prevent catching birds.
Happy hunting.
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I tried them all. It doesn't work. Peppermint oil in some little bowls. They can't stand that smell.
I made my own bait stations out of arm length 4" corrugated drain pipe. The bait blocks all have a hole through them that I use to wire several blocks inside the pipe so the critters can't carry them off and they are out of reach of larger animals.
Full disclosure: I have two ultrasonic emitters in cars that spend time outside. I have the 5 gallon bucket traps and a couple electric panel type traps.
With that said, the only appreciable reduction in rodents have come from quality pest control quarterly service (at a minimum) and feral/outside cats who are driven "mousers." HTH
With that said, the only appreciable reduction in rodents have come from quality pest control quarterly service (at a minimum) and feral/outside cats who are driven "mousers." HTH
I've caught more rodents using good old fashion snap traps. Sure sometimes the smart guy gets some bait, but he comes back. Over confidence can be a mammalian weakness.
I found this guy (already dead) out back of the RV yesterday. I took his picture next to a soda can for perspective. I haven't had any rodenticide out all summer, but I think it's time for a trip to the feed store.
Decent grilled or stewed
I tested a few ultrasonic devices at work for outdoor rat control. They only worked for a short period of time and then the rats returned, I took videos of rats approaching the device, retreating and then returning, it didn’t take long at all for them to gain the confidence to feed within 4 or 5 feet of the devices.
We still use this one. Keep it all the time on the red mode and will keep them away. It's very effective.
https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Ultrasonic-Repellent-Electronic-Switching/dp/B0CQJVRFF6?th=1
For how long have you been running it at full blast?
I just saw this review on Amazon:
"Over half broken in a month.
I actually think the product works decently but on the high red setting over half of them broke within a month and I can use them on yellow now so they're still limping along but I can't believe something would break that quickly. I still have them working and they seem to be semi keeping away the pests."edit: I read some more of the recent reviews & they're not very positive.... /
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