A Swedish invention could rewrite the history of how we fight rodents. After years of research at Luleå University of Technology (LTU), scientists have developed a new, patented sound system that literally makes rats and mice flee in panic - and unlike old ultrasonic devices, they don't come back.
For decades, cheap ultrasonic scarers have been sold on the market. The problem? Most are based on a simple, constant tone. Rodents get used to it quickly, and after a few days they run past the sound unhindered.
- It's not the volume that matters, but the impact of the signals on the nervous system. The animal's reptilian brain reacts reflexively to certain frequencies - just as we jump at a sudden bang, says Örjan Johansson, professor of technical acoustics at LTU.
Scientifically documented escape reflexes
The research team at LTU and SLU tested hundreds of combinations of sound patterns in a laboratory environment. The result was a series of complex sound sequences that mimic acute threats in nature. When rats and mice were exposed to these signals, their reptilian brains' flight reflexes - the most primitive part of the brain, which controls instinctive survival responses - were activated.
In tests documented by SLU, up to 100% of rodents disappeared within 24 hours. Not only was the effect immediate, but they avoided returning to the site.
Patented Swedish technology - Repello
The technology is called Repello and is patented in Europe. Each unit covers up to 60 m² and uses a unique sound chamber that amplifies signals up to 30 times more than standard ultrasonic devices.
Unlike poisons, traps or other solutions, Repello is completely non-toxic and maintenance-free - it does not affect people or pets, but causes rodents to flee immediately.
