High-pitched noise outside of Harris Teeter—Mystery pursued
By Marie Reinsdorf
A few weeks ago, my 18-year old son mentioned “an awful noise” outside of Harris Teeter at Barcroft Plaza [6351 Columbia Pike, Falls Church]. “I still shop at Harris Teeter, he said, “but I run in fast. I can hear it as far outside as the Starbucks up hill in the parking lot.”
Having never heard it, I asked a couple of other parents. One said, “why, yes, I asked my daughter about it; she hears it all the time, and I never have.”
I wondered, perhaps a bit too suspiciously, if this might be “The Mosquito” – a teen repellent device used primarily in England (based on quick internet research) that emits high-pitched noises to drive away loitering teens. This seemed unlikely, and I wrote to the Harris Teeter manager, who called me to explain that the store deploys a device for bird control that is more humane than trapping the birds who might want to make their way into the store. It cycles on and off, emitting sounds of predatory birds, and “mixes it up” to keep the birds confused.
Though he said anyone can hear it, the machine clearly employs some sounds that only younger people can hear – we older folks have lost the range of hearing. Thinking back, I now recall being startled by an occasional shrill noise as if from a gull in the distance, but I certainly do not hear the unpleasant noise that young people mention.
So, for anyone who has, or had their teenager say they have, heard the sound, here is the explanation.
9 responses to “High-pitched noise outside of Harris Teeter—Mystery pursued”
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I've ALWAYS wondered about that! It's the most painful thing EVER.
As long as I can't hear it…I guess that's exactly the point. Just wait 'til enough kids can't spend their money there.
Makes me want to go – just to see if I'm still young enough to hear it.
Finally checked it out. Didn't hear a thing, but my son said the squawking noise was really loud and painful.
The sound is AWFUL!!! I'm 30 y/o.
I lived in Annandale, VA, a 1/2 mile from this grocery store from February to July of 2010 and this was only grocer I frequented. The noise is extremely annoying and I noticed it the first time I went and every time after. It never seemed to go on and off as the store manager is quoted as saying. It was one continuous high pitch buzz the whole time. I could hear it within 150 ft of the building. I'm 24 years old and have a degree in music production, so I'm thankful my ears are doing okay as of now.
Heard it this morning at the Duke street one…OMG my ears!
i'm about to turn 39 and i can hear it at the one in Arlington. i thought it was teen repellent too. Glad to know it's bird repellent instead. 🙂
I'm 30 years old and this shrill sound is quite painful and would always put me in a really foul mood entering the store. I tolerated it for the past year since moving to the area, but now that I have a young baby (who presumably can hear this worse than I, )I won't go there anymore.