Electronic Pest Control and Ultrasonic Pest Control vs Traditional Chemical Pesticides

These days, as environmental awareness spreads like wildfire, so too does a push for organic products and a general concern over chemicals and their possible dangers. If you’re one of the many concerned about the safety of chemical pesticides, you should know that the Environmental Protection Agency reports that almost all cases of poisoning related to pest control chemicals has come as a result of not following the instruction label that came with the product.

That being said, many believe the use of any chemical poisons in the treatment of pest problems represents some amount of risk. Indeed, these modern times have brought not only a rise to cloth grocery bags and a demand for organic lotions, but also a general conce
for the safety of all things manufactured. And, if you are one of the concerned, you may have spent hours scouring the internet for a pest control alternative that is not only natural, but also truly effective.

During these seemingly endless searches you may have come across something called “electronic pest control repellers” or “ultrasonic pest control devices.” These products claim to emit ultrasonic noises, inaudible to humans, dogs and cats, but unbearable to every pest from fleas, ticks, mice, rats, cockroaches, to even rabbits and bats. On the surface, an ultrasonic pest control repeller sounds like the perfect solution to echo-friendly consumers and people who fear that harmful chemicals might put them and their families at risk.

However, before you invest your hard-earned money on such devices, you should know that ultrasonic pest control and other electronic pest control devices are not under the regulation of the Federal government’s FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act). This means the Environmental Protection Agency does not demand thorough testing for these products to see if they actually work.

In addition, the Federal Trade Commission’s declares that its Division of Enforcement has “sent warning letters to more than 60 manufacturers and retailers of ultrasonic pest control devices, stating that efficacy claims about those products must be supported by scientific evidence.”

And, in 2003, Global Instruments who sells its electronic pest control products under the names “Riddex” for QVC settled on the wrong side of a lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission who claimed that the company made false claims when it stated that the “combination electromagnetic/ultrasonic pest control devices effectively repel, control, or eliminate mice, rats, cockroaches, rodents, insects, spiders, silverfish, and bats from homes and other buildings, and upset nesting sites of mice, rats, and cockroaches within walls, ceilings, and floors by using the products’ pulse or electromagnetic technology through the household wiring.”

Still, there are those that swear that ultrasonic pest control repellers and other electronic pest control devices have made a considerable impact on their pest problems. So, if you decide to take the plunge and give this method a try, your best bet is to go with a brand name you recognize like Black and Decker rather than one you saw being promoted on an infomercial at two in the morning. And, if all else fails, remember that, used judiciously and according to label instructions, chemical pest controls can be a reliable and safe solution to most pest control dilemmas.