A device for and a method of repelling animals

A method of repelling animal from a location, in particular water voles in a tunnel system, by mimicking the call of the animal. A weather-resistant housing la provides a chamber 1b containing an acoustic generator (4, fig 1). An acoustic outlet 2 is located, in use, to direct an acoustic signal into air of the animal tunnel/burrow system rather than into ground/soil. The acoustic outlet may be an acoustic tube that extends along a tunnel of a subterranean tunnel system of the species to be deterred so as to form part of that tunnel. The device may be powered by a battery 10. A part of the device that extends above the ground may support a solar panel 5. The acoustic signal represents one or more deterrent communication calls of the species to be deterred. In the case of a water vole or mole, the acoustic signal represents one or more of a distance regulating or territorial call and a defensive call. Two such communication calls may be artificially paired to form the acoustic signal.