# Electronic pest repellers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [November 10, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180 "2010-11-10T15:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/1 "2010-11-10T15:37:13Z")
Applicable [thread](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/403/do-ultrasonic-bug-repellers-work). The pests aren’t electronic, of course, just the device. I had some experience with these devices in Africa about 15 years ago. The DCM’s (deputy chief of mission) house was surrounded by palm trees that were the home of dozens (at least) of fruit bats. At dusk, these large critters would rise up out of the trees and go hunting. It was quite a sight. During the day, they would roost and chitter incessantly. Unfortunately, bats are also giant poop machines. They’re a lot like Canada geese in that regard. As a result the DCM’s house and pool were covered with bat shit. An even larger problem occurred during evening parties. Guests were finding unwanted deposits in their food and drink, and a swooping three-foot horror will startle a person, to say the least. Short of chopping the trees down, nothing discouraged the bats. In desperation, I ordered a box full of electronic devices and had them installed around the perimeter fence at about 30-50 foot intervals. Within a week, all the bats were gone. Now, perhaps they got a better lease rate somewhere else, but it would seem to be more than coincidence. I was an instant hero. My wife thinks this sort of thing works in the house for spiders, which she has declared war upon. Our house has at least a half-dozen of these things pugged in, and I have to say that we don’t get many spiders in the place. I haven’t seen any tigers lurking in the basement either, so perhaps they work for that, also. I think it’s more a case of her campaign of murder and mayhem on the porches and surrounding areas, and the lack of entry points. I’m sure the electronic squealing is causing brain damage. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/2 "2010-11-10T16:08:51Z")
Interesting information about bat repelling. Also, every time someone correctly uses the term “Canada geese”, an angel gets his wings. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/3 "2010-11-10T16:30:18Z")
I assume those electronic devices emitted some kind of ultrasonic sound. I can sort of see how something like this might work with bats. Since they use sound (their own ultrasonic squeaks) to “see” in the dark, a confounding sound source might “blind” them. Sort of like very bright lights might blind a person. The bats aren’t going to want to hang around someplace where they’re blinded. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/4 "2010-11-10T16:38:13Z")
**Czarcasm** said: > [@](#): > > Also, every time someone correctly uses the term “Canada geese”, an angel gets his wings. But what is the goose to do without wings? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/5 "2010-11-10T16:44:14Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > **Czarcasm** said: > But what is the goose to do without wings? Stay put and not shit all over my garden and car. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/6 "2010-11-10T17:28:18Z")
Honestly, I’ve never seen anything else like those bats taking off at dusk. They take to the sky by the hundreds, and in that west African setting, it was like something out of pre-history. They’re very large (up to six foot wingspan) and in the dim light they look like pterodactyls. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/7 "2010-11-10T23:29:50Z")
Mom swears that they work for mice. I have never tried one though. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/8 "2010-11-11T02:44:43Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Mom swears that they work for mice. I have never tried one though. Your mom is right-bats _love_ mice. I’m not sure the trade off is worth it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/9 "2010-11-11T14:30:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Your mom is right-bats _love_ mice. I’m not sure the trade off is worth it, though. I once saw a fruit bat on a street corner in WDC with a sign that said “Will work for mice.” Sad, really. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/10 "2010-11-11T18:06:28Z")
Very sad. I bet mice are bad employers and quickly scurry away when it’s time to pay wages. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/11 "2010-11-11T18:26:55Z")
> [@Celyn](#): > > Very sad. I bet mice are bad employers and quickly scurry away when it’s time to pay wages. ☹ They’re a cheesy lot, all right. ---
**Author:** ![Uncertain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Uncertain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncertain)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/12 "2010-11-11T23:46:52Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Also, every time someone correctly uses the term “Canada geese”, an angel gets his wings. What do Canadian geese have to do with angels? ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/13 "2010-11-12T00:30:29Z")
I’ve never actually seen the mice in my basement laugh at the ultrasonic device I have down there, but I strongly suspect that they do. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/14 "2010-11-12T03:59:22Z")
> [@Uncertain](#): > > What do Canadian geese have to do with angels? If that’s not a woosh, God’s gonna getcha. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/15 "2010-11-12T13:10:02Z")
> [@Uncertain](#): > > What do Canadian geese have to do with angels? Ah, it is because “angel” = “messenger” and Canada Geese make a godawful mess, you see. 🙂 Nah, seriously, I’m keen to hear why this is so important. I mean, it’s one of those little factoids that one _knows_and if I had occasion to mention the creatures, I’d be very careful to say “Canada Goose” rather than “Canadian”, but Googling just now gets me some people who like “n” in the name AND even some story about them being named after a Mr. Canada, so I reckon it’s wiser to ask here on the Dope why it is such a shibboleth. ---
**Author:** ![Uncertain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Uncertain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncertain)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/16 "2010-11-12T13:22:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If that’s not a woosh, God’s gonna getcha. I knew exactly what I was doing. That should make you feel better. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/17 "2010-11-12T14:36:46Z")
> [@Celyn](#): > > Ah, it is because “angel” = “messenger” and Canada Geese make a godawful mess, you see. 🙂 > > Nah, seriously, I’m keen to hear why this is so important. I mean, it’s one of those little factoids that one _knows_and if I had occasion to mention the creatures, I’d be very careful to say “Canada Goose” rather than “Canadian”, but Googling just now gets me some people who like “n” in the name AND even some story about them being named after a Mr. Canada, so I reckon it’s wiser to ask here on the Dope why it is such a shibboleth. Ah, yes-The “Mr. Canada” answer. Sometimes it’s “Ben Canada”, sometimes it’s “John Canada”, either way the answer is wrong. Carl Linnæus, pretty much the creator of Latin binomial nomenclature back in the 18th century, named the bird _Branta canadensis_ in his great work _Systema Naturae._ FYI-_canadensis_ means _from Canada_. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/18 "2010-11-12T15:45:17Z")
> [@Celyn](#): > > Ah, it is because “angel” = “messenger” and Canada Geese make a godawful mess, you see. 🙂 > > Nah, seriously, I’m keen to hear why this is so important. I mean, it’s one of those little factoids that one _knows_and if I had occasion to mention the creatures, I’d be very careful to say “Canada Goose” rather than “Canadian”, but Googling just now gets me some people who like “n” in the name AND even some story about them being named after a Mr. Canada, so I reckon it’s wiser to ask here on the Dope why it is such a shibboleth. Because the aim is to fight ignorance whenever we’re not engaged in character assassinaion with each other. If something is clearly wrong (as in this case), it’s pointed out and then the person is flogged until he admits that he’s a dirty bastard for even bringing it up. Then he’s pitted for defending himself and hounded unmercifully until he develops a behavioral disorder. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/19 "2010-11-12T20:06:06Z")
What about the Canada Geese that come from Canada, aren’t they technically Canadian Geese as well? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180/20 "2010-11-12T22:23:54Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > What about the Canada Geese that come from Canada, aren’t they technically Canadian Geese as well? What’re you, a birther? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-pest-repellers/560180.md?page=2)