# Sonic pest controllers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-pest-controllers/163123 "2003-03-21T15:54:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![parisms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@parisms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parisms)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-pest-controllers/163123/1 "2003-03-21T15:54:05Z")
Has anyone ever used these things, they plug into the wall and are supposed to keep out Mice and other critters. I am about to move into an appt attached to a barn and which gets a considerable amount of Mice. Their are Cats, but they are of the worthless breed. I really don’t like the traps things as the place is very small so I will be sure to be waking up many nights to the loud snap and subsequent squeal. If you have any good info on these sonic thingys it will be greatly appreciated ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-pest-controllers/163123/2 "2003-03-21T21:27:53Z")
The FTC sez they don’t work. > **[FTC Warns Manufacturers and Retailers of Ultrasonic Pest-control Devices](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2001/05/ftc-warns-manufacturers-and-retailers-ultrasonic-pest-control)** > > Staff of the Federal Trade Commission's Division of Enforcement today announced that they have sent warning letters to more than 60 manufacturers and retailers of ultrasonic pest-control devices, stating that efficacy claims about those products must... ---
**Author:** ![parisms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@parisms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parisms)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-pest-controllers/163123/3 "2003-03-21T23:04:20Z")
Col thanks alot, that was very helpful. I guess that explains why you don’t see the commercials anymore. Has anyone here ever tried them? ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-pest-controllers/163123/4 "2003-03-22T04:00:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by parisms \* > \*\* Has anyone here ever tried them? \*\* My grandmother used to have one on her porch to try to keep spiders away. She had to admit it had no efficacy when a spider built a web on it. ---
**Author:** ![hobbes730](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/97f17d/32.png) [@hobbes730](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobbes730)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-pest-controllers/163123/5 "2003-03-22T04:55:06Z")
And if you have good hearing, like me, it’ll drive you NUTS. One of my neighbors has one to keep bats away and I can’t get within 50 feet of his house, because it’s physically painful for my ears. If it works on me, I can’t imagine why it wouldn’t work on the bats/rodents/whatever… but that’s just been my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-pest-controllers/163123/6 "2003-03-22T07:10:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by parisms \* > **I really don’t like the traps things as the place is very small so I will be sure to be waking up many nights to the loud snap and subsequent squeal.** Speaking from experience, that “SNAP” can be a very satisfying sound when you get fed up with those little bastards leaving pellets on your pillow when you’re gone.