NPMA Pest World 2026 UPDATE

Cracking the Rodent Code: AI and Ultrasonic Acoustics at NPMA PestWorld 2026

PestWorld 2026 brought roughly 4,000 pest management professionals from across the globe to the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas. While the program featured top-tier technical sessions, one presentation stood out above the rest: a breakthrough rodent study presented by Ralph Peterson.

Peterson is not a traditional pest control operator; he brings serious academic pedigree from the frontiers of neuroscience and computational ecology. Holding a Ph.D. in Neural Science from New York University (NYU), along with prior research stints at Harvard Medical School and Northeastern University, Peterson currently serves as an Applied Research Scientist at Basis Research Institute and a guest researcher at the Center for Computational Neuroscience (Flatiron Institute). Leveraging that deep neural science background, he shared field research conducted across Boston and Manhattan Island that pairs overhead optical AI with ultrasonic audio monitoring to decode Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Mapping Invisible Behaviour: AI Vision Meets Rodent Acoustics

Urban rats maintain an extensive communication system entirely outside the range of human hearing, utilizing ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) inside their burrows and across surface runways.

Peterson’s setup relied on elevated sensor and camera arrays overlooking known rodent activity corridors:

Computer Vision & Trail Mapping: Machine learning models analyzed overhead video feeds to identify active runways, map recurring travel corridors, and predict the precise underground layout and scale of burrow networks.

Ultrasonic Demographics: High-frequency acoustic sensors recorded vocalizations across different colonies. When Peterson pitch-shifted the audio down into the human audible range, the audience heard rapid, ascending chirps repeating in distinct rhythmic patterns. Crucially, acoustic signatures varied between colonies—functioning almost like localized neighborhood dialects.

Real-Time Efficacy Verification

Acoustic tracking proved especially valuable for estimating population density and confirming post-treatment knockdown without invasive digging.

During field trials, burrows were treated using a pressurized CO2 fumigation system. Post-treatment acoustic monitoring revealed a distinct shift:

Immediate Pitch Spike: Vocalizations jumped significantly in frequency/pitch, while total call volume dropped sharply.

Subsequent Decline: Over the following week, detected calls steadily faded toward zero.

Because this acoustic post-treatment data is brand new, researchers are still investigating whether the sudden pitch spike represents distress alarms from survivors or an unraveling social hierarchy. Regardless, the data provides an objective, non-invasive benchmark to prove whether a treated burrow remains active.

Next Stop: Bringing Rodent Bioacoustics to New Zealand?

While the initial trials focused on East Coast US sewer rats, the potential for other rodent species and environments is vast. Peterson noted that bioacoustics testing hasn't yet expanded to roof rats (Rattus rattus) or house mice (Mus musculus).

Following his presentation, I reached out to Ralph to discuss bringing this research down under. New Zealand presents a unique landscape: our temperate climate means roof rats and mice often dominate urban and peri-urban spaces, alongside distinct populations of non-urban sewer rats.

Ralph's team responded with enthusiasm:

"We are very interested in recording in NZ. We will discuss as a team and my colleague may reach out to you with further information. Thanks very much for reaching out and your enthusiasm about the study."

If field trials move forward here, New Zealand could play a direct role in expanding rodent acoustic databases beyond the US.

The ultimate application stretches well beyond passive monitoring. Researchers believe recorded colony vocalizations could eventually be synthesized and broadcast from smart bait stations and multi-catch traps—using familiar social calls as acoustic lures to overcome rodent neophobia and draw cautious animals into control devices far faster than bait alone.

Who knew rats had an entire secret language operating beneath our feet, inside our walls, and across our businesses that we couldn't even hear?

Sneaky, for sure.