So you’ve been hearing scratching and scurrying noises coming from your walls and ceiling at night and you’re becoming concerned. Our homes are the largest investments many of us will ever make therefore assuming the worst is an understandable reaction. Before you let your imagination run wild with worst case scenarios, please take a few minutes to educate yourself on the likely sources of the noise.

Before any steps can be taken to remedy the situation, you must first determine what you’re up against. You’d be surprised how many times a contractor or plumber is paid to come out for a visit when in fact it’s a wildlife removal expert that is required. It will save you time and money getting it right the first time around.

Differentiating Between Animal and Household Noises

There are only two options as to what the source of the scratching noises can be. It’s either a critter in your walls or ceiling or something related to the building itself. It could be a loose pipe, a dislodged soffit panel or a piece of siding, or even faulty electrical components. Regardless, determining what is causing the disruption is the first step in rectifying the issue.   

The best indicator that it is, in fact, a household related issue is if the noise is consistent. Animals are erratic and unpredictable, whereas a loose pipe or a piece of siding blowing in the wind will be more of a consistent sound. It’s advisable that you do a visual examination of the exterior and roof of the building, keeping an out for anything that appears loose or out of place. If it is something blowing in the wind or something loose on the building itself, see if you can confirm this visually.

If the commotion appears to be emanating from the interior of the building; try running the different faucets in your home. If it is a loose pipe this will confirm it and allow you to narrow down which one. If it sounds like something more mechanical, switch your furnace or air conditioner on and off, as well as any other major household appliances. This should allow you to identify the source of the noise if it’s mechanical.

To summarise, if the noise you are hearing is consistent or predictable in any way, it is not a wildlife-related issue. You can now go ahead and call the appropriate tradesperson with confidence. If it is a more erratic and unpredictable noise you are hearing, congratulations, you have critters in your walls or ceiling.

With that in mind we put together a video walking  you through some helpful tips to help you identify which species you are dealing with:

Raccoons in The Attic at Night

Because raccoons are the largest animal that will break into your attic or home, it is also the easiest to identify. The most common place raccoons will occupy in your home is the attic. It is elevated, insulated and well out of harm’s way. Because they are such great climbers, accessing the upper portions of any structure is accomplished with tremendous ease.

Raccoons move around at a slower pace. You will hear thumping and banging around, almost as if a small person was up there stomping around. All other potential culprits are smaller and quicker so if you’re hearing loud, heavy activity as opposed to scratching or scurrying sounds, it’s a safe bet you have raccoons in your attic.

The next best indicator will be the time of day and the season in which you are hearing the activity. Because they are nocturnal you will hear them in the evening or overnight. The most common time of year for intrusions is during the winter months and early spring. They have their litter in the spring and will seek out a warm, safe place in anticipation. During the birthing process these critters will also be very vocal, so keep an ear out for any unfamiliar noises.

Watch this video to hear what raccoons sound like:
 

In conclusion, a raccoon will not be a scratching, scurrying or tapping sound. It will be more of a heavy thumping. Raccoons require a pretty significant amount of space to gain entry to your home. Take a walk around your property and have a look for any damaged roof vents, bent siding or soffit panels etc. Often times you will be able to visually confirm the point of entry.

Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!

Squirrel Sounds in Attic and Walls

The biggest giveaway that you are dealing with squirrels will be the time of day. They do have some distinctive noises associated with their presence, however, these sounds can often be mistaken for rodents or other critters. Because they stick to such a rigid schedule, they are easier to identify than you may think.

Squirrels are pretty industrious; once they’ve established a den they’ll spend a lot of time going back and forth between your walls and the outdoors. They adhere to a strict, consistent schedule, therefore, you’re most likely to hear them early in the morning or at dusk. Because they spent their days foraging for food and bringing it back to their dens,  it’s not unusual to hear scratching or tapping noise during the daytime as well. But the bulk of the activity will happen at either sunup or sundown.

Another common sound associated with squirrels being present in your attic, walls or ceiling is chewing sounds. Because their teeth never stop growing they are constantly filling them down by chewing on any and everything available.

So remember, if you’re hearing erratic, scratching sounds early in the morning or in the evening there is a high likelihood you are up against squirrels. Squirrel noises are a lot more erratic sounding.

As with raccoons, often times squirrels will leave visual evidence of their entry point. Have a walk around your property and see if you notice and a wall of roof vents that have been chewed. Occasionally they will bend a soffit panel or portion of siding as well.

Birds in Your Ceiling or Walls

If the source of the sounds you are hearing are coming from birds, you will be able to quickly confirm this fact. If you are hearing scratching noises, they’ll be accompanied by other recognizable bird sounds, such as chirping, making it fairly easy for you to determine what up against.

Birds will be fairly quiet for long periods of time, especially when they initially move in, meaning that it takes some homeowners quite a while to detect that there is even an issue to begin with. But once they alert you to their presence, identifying them is easy.

Do Bats Make Noise?

Another common species found in attics and walls are bats. You’re going to see them a whole lot more than you’ll hear them. If you’ve got bats in your home you’re probably going to be calling us in the middle of the night because you’ve found a bat flying around your house. Bats are not something you’re generally going to hear in your attic as they often reside on the higher portion of your attic where noises are not easily detected. If they accidentally fall down behind your walls then you’ll probably hear a scratching noise that sounds like the animal is going up and down, and that could be a sign that it’s a bat, and that it’s stuck. (if the bat isn’t safely removed at this point it becomes distressed). With bats you won’t see much, however, your encounters with them will be quite visible as you’ll see them flying in and out of your attic at night or encounter one somewhere in your home.

Another great way to confirm the presence of bats is by doing a visual inspection of the perimeter of your home. Bats will use the same access points to enter and exit your home and often relieving themselves as they squeeze through the entry point. Keep an eye out for piles of bat guano around your home. This is a surefire sign that you have a bat colony in your attic or walls.

Take a look at the picture below to see what bat guano looks like:

Bat Guano

Sounds Mice Make

If you are hearing scratching noises specifically, as well as scurrying sounds. Mice or rats are your likely culprit. With rodents, you’ll usually hear them around bedtime and late at night. Occasionally when the house is very quiet you will hear them during the day as well. What you’ll hear is a faint scratching sound that’s isolated in one area. Usually coming from your walls, ceiling or attic (if you are sitting in an upstairs room). Mice are very quiet animals so you will rarely hear them.

Because they hang out in your well-insulated attic or your insulated walls, they often go unnoticed until they start scratching or running. Those faint and quiet sounds are usually the first indication you may be hosting a population of mice in your home. One way to further determine whether it’s a mouse is by going up to the spot where the sound is and firmly tapping on that area of the wall. If it’s mice, they’ll stop whatever it is they’re doing for about a minute and then travel away to a safer part of the home – may be further down the wall or up into the ceiling. If it’s squirrels, for instance, you’ll hear it tear off and scurry to another part of your home almost immediately. Mice removal should only be attempted by trained professionals.

Can You Hear Insects?

If the noises you have been hearing are scratching or scurrying type sounds; is it possible that insects are the cause? This is highly unlikely. Even in the most severe of infestations it is next to impossible to detect any discernible sounds. Insects are creepy and disgusting, however, if your hearing scratching or scurrying sounds in your home, it’s likely a larger critter.

So there you have it. A species by species break down of what to look for. Keep in mind that next to the various sounds associated with each individual species, the next best indicator will be time of day. Depending on whether the critter is diurnal or nocturnal will be a big help in successfully identifying the intruders.

What To Do Next

Once you are confident you have identified the source of the noises in your walls or ceiling, you are faced with a few decisions. There are many available options out there when it comes to dealing with a wildlife related issue in your home. Let’s go through the options:

DIY and Quick Fixes:

There are several products on the market making claims to quickly and effortlessly resolve a wide array of wildlife related issues. From ultrasonic repellents to pepper based substances to baits and traps of all shapes and sizes. If your BS meter has been activated it is for good reason. If permanently ridding yourself or a mice infestation was that simple then the whole multi-million dollar wildlife prevention industry would not exist.  

In most instances, no real damage will be done by trying these methods, other than simply prolonging the resolution. Unfortunately, the simple truth remains the is literally a zero percent chance of any of those modalities permanently resolving your wildlife issue. ZERO.

Preventative Maintenance:

There are several simple steps we can all take around our properties to lessen the likelihood of random wildlife choosing our home to break into:

  • Do not allow water to gather and pool around your property. This is an open invitation for all sorts of wildlife to come by and quench their thirst. It’s also a breeding ground for insects. It’s best to avoid any accumulation of water whenever possible.
  • Keep garbage and other food sources contained and out of the way. If you have food sources readily accessible on your property, do not act surprised if animals find their way into your home after a good feeding.
  • Reinforce or address any obvious vulnerable areas. If you have an obvious potential entry point on the exterior of your home, its advisable to secure these areas to the best of your ability before a wildlife issue develops. Once you add live animals to the mix, remedying the situation becomes much more complicated.

Although taking the above precautions may indeed reduce the chances of a wildlife intrusion, the reality is these animals are incredibly dexterous and crafty and if they set their sights on your attic, there is very little we can do initially to deter them.

Full Prevention 

Once an unwanted animal has taken up residence in your home, the only safe, humane and efficient way to resolve the issue is to contact a wildlife profesional. Dealing with a live animal in your home is a time sensitive and involved process. A pro will be able to ensure the following takes place:

  • The animal can be safely and humanely removed.
  • Your home can be inspected for any and all potential vulnerable areas
  • Your home can be properly protected from future intrusions through our established wildlife prevention protocols.

Your local wildlife removal and prevention outfit will quickly determine the best steps to take to safely and humanely evict the animal.

Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today

 

Share This