Do ultrasonic pest repellers really work?

[ryan.s]

I live in the suburbs of Los Angeles near the foot hills and have a problem with racoons, opossums, cats and skunks in the yard. They leave droppings and dig up the yard. From what I've read pest droppings can be toxic. Have any of you guys had any experience with ultrasonic pest repellers? I'm thinking picking up this unit from amazon but wanted to get some opinions first. This item (there's a few listings for this same item) seems to have mixed reviews. Any input would help.

http://www.amazon.com/Bird-X-Guard-U...1539244&sr=1-1

Thanks!
Ryan

[LCHIEN]

I asked the question here a bit over a year ago and the answers seemed to be, don't waste your money...

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...est+ultrasonic

[cwsmith]

Getting the right one would be the challenge I think. I can't speak for pests the size that you describe, but I have a couple of those inexpensive wall plug insect repellers made by Sunbeam. They work pretty darn well in keeping the spiders out of the family room.

I live on a wooded lot in a rural village and this room used to be my garage. A couple of times a year I would be beseiged by spiders... hundreds of them! I've tried spray, soaking the perimeter, etc. and about the only thing that they drove out of the room was my wife, who had a fit about the smell. The spiders loved the stuff.

I bought a couple of the plug-in ultrasonics and I occasionally get two or three spiders. But even then, they seem to just sit still on the wall or ceiling and are easy to grab with a tissue. I think the trick is to not have them plugged in constantly, otherwise the pests may get used to the sound.

So, if you can get a ultrasonic designed to specifically keep those particular critters away, it may well be worth a try. I would also check with one of the farm or feed supply stores in your area to see what other methods may be available.

CWS

[ryan.s]

Loring - Your thread seemed to asked the question on whether they would work for squirrels. Interestingly enough the mixed reviews I read seemed to be that they didn't work for squirrels but they worked for larger pests.

CWSmith - I've never been to a feed or supply store and am pretty sure I won't find any in my area. =)

I'd love to find out if anyone has any luck with larger pests.

[Uncle Cracker]

Yes, it works. When I've got one running in the attic for possums, my wife won't come near the house...

[Ken Massingale]

We have decent results with Shake Away repellent with Bobcat and Fox urine. Used to have lot's of possums and coons around the compost pile, but haven't seen any lately.
http://www.outsidepride.com/store/home.php?cat=390

[LCHIEN]

Loring - Your thread seemed to asked the question on whether they would work for squirrels. Interestingly enough the mixed reviews I read seemed to be that they didn't work for squirrels but they worked for larger pests.

CWSmith - I've never been to a feed or supply store and am pretty sure I won't find any in my area. =)

I'd love to find out if anyone has any luck with larger pests.

The thread started out specifically for squirrels but then ran to pest repellers in general.
In my area they (squirrels) have gotten agressive and have moved out of tree-top nests to chewing holes in the siding of houses to nest in the attic... plus their population exploded and they're digging holes everywhere in the gardens and lawn much to my wife's chagrin and the detriment of the lawn and flowers. And they shred the flowers, my wife's pride and joy. Bad news for the squirrels.

[mac_daddy]

Squirrels out here have also become aggressive. I'm out here in Sugar Land near some new homebuilding have broken ground. I guess they are being displaced. Pest Control company had put some traps in my attic, I didn't know if it was norway rats or what. Finally caught two in a rat snap trap as well as a glue trap. Stunk for a while before I knew we had them. They clawed and chewed through a plastic roof vent. I had to replace. But they haven't been back. Now I am going to invest in a pellet gun.