What noise will scare mice away?

Noises can startle mice and cause them to freeze or flee temporarily because mice have very sensitive hearing that extends into ultrasonic frequencies up to 90,000 Hertz, much higher than human hearing. Loud, sudden, and unexpected noises like banging pots, clapping, shouting, or loud music can scare mice in the moment and make them retreat to hiding places. High-pitched ultrasonic repeller devices that emit sounds between 20,000 and 65,000 Hertz are marketed as scaring mice away, and some mice initially avoid areas with these sounds, but scientific studies show that mice quickly habituate to constant or repetitive noises and return within days if food and shelter remain. Noises that mimic predators, such as recordings of cats or owls, may cause brief avoidance but are not effective long term. What is more effective than a single noise is a combination of unpredictable loud disturbances combined with removal of food and shelter, but even then noise alone will not make mice abandon an established nest inside walls. Pest control professionals do not rely on noise as a control method because mice are adaptable. The most reliable way to get rid of them is not noise but exclusion by sealing holes with steel wool and caulk, sanitation, and trapping.