If You Have Pets, You Should Reconsider Using This Popular Squirrel And Pest Deterrent

One pest control product growing in popularity is the ultrasonic pest repeller, which promises an eco-friendly way of driving out pesky home visitors such as squirrels. If you have pets though, you may reconsider using this deterrent. The high-frequency sounds may distress your cats and dogs, causing a variety of reactions. Pest control can come in all kinds of forms, including hiring professional pest control, traps, baits, and sprays. Yet, ultrasonic repellers are becoming increasingly popular due to their chemical-free approach for a wide variety of pests — but at a cost to some homeowners' pets.

Whether plugged into an outlet or placed outside, ultrasonic pest repellers typically emit sounds at frequencies ranging from 20 kHz to 65 kHz, which humans aren't able to hear. Around since the 1950s and 1960s, they have occasionally been the focus of infomercials, promising to end all of your pest problems for good. Manufacturers claim that these intense sounds can cause an audiogenic seizure response in small pests, resulting in frantic running in no particular direction, confusion, and convulsions. They state the technology won't harm pets, and it offers a humane way to keep critters like squirrels out of your yard. 

Whether this is just marketing speak or not remains unclear. There's no conclusive study on ultrasonic pest repellers hurting pets. However, some pet parents disagree with the claim, reporting that their furry friends react negatively when the device is on. They're also not advised for use around small animals, such as rabbits, hamsters, and ferrets. If you have a pet and use ultrasonic repellers, you can monitor it for any unusual signs and consider alternative pest control options if needed.

Both cats and dogs can display multiple behavior signs as a stress response to the frequencies. Dogs can hear frequencies from 47 to 65 kHz, which overlaps with the same range emitted by ultrasonic pest repellents. Cats have more sensitive ears than dogs, detecting sounds an octave higher than dogs and ranging from 48 kHz to 85 kHz. Some pet owners say their pets seem more anxious as well as jumpy in response to sudden movements, and report that the behaviors stopped when they removed the ultrasonic repellent. Other distress signs displayed include panting, frequent whining or barking near the device, hiding, excessive grooming, changes in appetite, and occurrence of diarrhea.

Every pet's reaction to an ultrasonic pest repellent differs. Watching your pet's body language, especially when near the powered-on device, is a good indicator of whether it distresses the animal. They may also react with a display of inappropriate behavior as well, such as scratching, or show new levels of aggression. If your animal is experiencing these symptoms, turn off the device and see if the reaction stops. You can then look into other ways to get rid of squirrels, such as treating an area with vinegar.