Ultrasonic pest repellers are popular pest control products because they repel unwanted critters like rodents and insects. These devices work by emitting a high-frequency sound that is very disruptive and unpleasant to various pests.
But do ultrasonic pest repellers affect ferrets? If you have a ferret as a pet, this can be a genuine concern of yours to consider before using these products in your home.
Do Ultrasonic Pest Repellers Affect Ferrets?
The quick and easy answer to this question is a fairly confident yes. Ultrasonic pest repellers were designed with pests like rats and mice in mind, and while ferrets are not a part of the rodent family, they do have similar levels of hearing that could be affected by the frequency of the noise.
Do Ultrasonic Pest Repellers Hurt Ferrets?
An ultrasonic pest repeller is very unlikely to hurt your ferret. Most of these devices operate at some frequency above 20Hz. Most ferrets can hear sounds as high as 40Hz. So, if a repeller falls between this range, your ferret will be able to hear it.
However, because ferrets are larger than most rodents and insects, it is unlikely that the frequency will physically hurt your ferret. These devices do not necessarily hurt even rodents and insects – they are simply disturbed by them and run in the other direction.
Do Ultrasonic Pest Repellers Bother Ferrets?
While an ultrasonic pest repeller may not hurt your ferret, it could likely bother it. Pet owners are often advised not to use ultrasonic pest devices if they have small pets such as mice, rats, hamsters, or gerbils.
Again, ferrets are a part of the weasel family and not the rodent family, but their small size could make them more susceptible to these sounds.
To make things simple, it’s best to look at the impact of these devices on a sliding scale. At the top of the scale are humans, who cannot hear this sound frequency and therefore are not impacted whatsoever.
Beneath humans are dogs and cats. Dogs and cats can hear this frequency, but it’s unlikely that it will bother them unless it’s set to a very high volume. At a higher volume, you may notice your dog or cat acting anxious, showing increased curiosity near the receiver, or staying away from that particular area.
Anything smaller than a dog or a cat will likely have a stronger reaction to this kind of device. Because ferrets are smaller and can hear at this frequency, the device may bother your ferret and, at the very least, make it uncomfortable, anxious, and unhappy.
What Animals Do Ultrasonic Pest Repellers Work On?
There’s a bit of a debate surrounding ultrasonic pest repellers and whether or not they work at all. Some studies show that they’re effective on certain insects and rodents, while others claim that they’re useless.
Regardless, it’s always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to our pets. We already know that you probably shouldn’t use these repellers around a ferret, but what other animals could these devices impact?
Rabbits
Ultrasonic repellers are known to have adverse effects on pet rabbits. Some signs that a repeller is harming your rabbit may include:
- Aggressive behavior
- Lethargy
- Anxiousness
- Restlessness
- Bulging eyes
- Flattened ears
- Thumping/stomping
- Circling/bobbing
- Lack of interest in food
Rabbits are naturally always on high alert, so they will show some clear signs when something disrupts their daily activities.
Other Animals
Other animals that can be impacted by ultrasonic repellers include:
- Hamsters
- Guinea pigs
- Gerbils
- Chinchillas
- Mice
- Rats
- Frogs
- Fish
If you have any of these pets, be sure to keep them clear of these devices.
Final Thoughts on Ultrasonic Pest Repellers
The research on ultrasonic pest repellers is shaky, at best, so it’s difficult to get clear answers on whether or not they will harm pets like ferrets.
But when it comes to our pets, it’s always best to take the safest route to avoid causing them any harm or discomfort.
If you have a pet in your home and you’re looking for some kind of pest control, we recommend staying away from this particular method.
