User Guide

Instructions for Victor® Sonic PestChaser®:
Plug into an unobstructed wall outlet where rodent activity is evident.
FAQs About Victor® Sonic PestChaser®
How does the PestChaser® work?
The PestChaser emits high frequency ultrasonic sound waves between 32
and 62 kHz to create an acoustically hostile environment that repels
rodents from sound-protected rooms. It's kinder than traps, safer than
poisons, and completely inaudible to people and non-rodent pets. Unlike
traps and poisons, the PestChaser minimizes human contact with disease-
bearing rodents (no dead rodents to dispose of).
Why can't I hear the PestChaser?
Ultrasonic sound is a frequency too high to be heard by the human ear
(your eardrum can't vibrate fast enough). People can hear sounds ranging
from 20 to 20,000 cycles per second, while dogs and cats can hear up to
27,000 cycles per second. The range of other animals can be even higher.
When measured electronically, these frequencies are expressed in "hertz",
defined as a unit equal to one cycle per second. Ultrasonic sound waves are frequencies over 20,000 hertz, or
20 kilohertz (kHz). The PestChaser is designed to continually and automatically sweep an ultrasonic frequency
range between 32 and 62 kHz, well above the hearing range of humans and common pets (cats, dogs, birds,
fish). Rodents and some other pests can clearly hear these frequencies. At high intensity the sound can induce
auditory stress.
How does ultrasound affect rodents?
Ultrasound can repel rodents by subjecting them to intense auditory stress. Very simply, ultrasound hurts
their ears. In a nutshell, this is classic animal behavior modification technique. Unlike traps and poisons,
ultrasound does not kill rodents. The PestChaser has the ability to provide long-term reductions in rodent
populations by creating a "rodent-unfriendly" environment that discourages rodent infestations.
Will rodents get used to the PestChaser?
No. The PestChaser uses a complex "swept" frequency with multiple "peaks" between 32 and 62 kHz.
Intensity, complexity and changing frequencies prevent rodents from getting used to the sound. There are a
number of ultrasonic repellents made which emit only a single continuous tone and/or turn the tone on and off
at a regular interval. These units will fail to repel rodents for more than a short period of time, if at all.
Can ultrasound be heard by my rodent family pets?
Yes, absolutely. Rodent pets include mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, and squirrels. Never install a
PestChaser in rooms inhabited by rodent pets as the sound will cause your pet severe auditory stress.
Does ultrasound go through walls?
No. In fact, ultrasonic waves behave more like light than sound. For example, music from your stereo can fill
your entire house and, if loud enough, can be heard through closed doors by your neighbors. Ultrasound
cannot penetrate any solid surface (walls, floors, ceilings) or travel around corners. This is why you need a
PestChaser for each room where you have a rodent problem. To visualize how ultrasound travels, imagine that
the PestChaser speaker is a flood light. The sound will radiate outward in a cone shape, throwing "shadows"
behind solid objects and casting very little "light" into other rooms. The diagram illustrates how ultrasound
"bounces" off hard surfaces to fill an average-sized room with ultrasonic sound waves.