What is That Sound Coming From the Attic?

What is that sound coming from the attic? Is it scurrying, bumping, flapping or squeaking? Strange noises in the attic are always alarming because the may be any one of a variety of dangers large and small. Once human intrusion has been eliminated, the next logical course of investigating strange sounds in the attic is to figure out what animal might be up there.

by Amber Kingsley 

Many different animals seek shelter in human structures, and their impact on a home is often underrated. With them come other pests such as insects and spiders. Often they cause structural damage to get in and to lay nests. They chew insulation and worse yet, wiring, which can cause unexpected and deadly fires in the home. They leave behind urine and feces, which can carry diseases to you and your family.

The most common attic invaders are mice, rats, raccoons, squirrels, birds, possums, and bats, but there are all types of invaders that can find their way into homes. Snakes and other reptiles, such as iguanas and striped basilisks, are problematic in certain regions of the country, while owls make their homes in attics all over rural areas. Each animal brings a unique set of problems along with identifying characteristics, such as the sounds they make or the droppings they leave. Often, local warnings are enacted when a rash of animal invaders are in the neighborhood, but it is the best policy to maintain your home so they can’t invade in common spots, such as cracks and holes, and to know what pests are common to your locale.

Often, pest control companies that specialize in larger animals are called in to remove these animals from homes, usually in a safe and humane way. The most common reasons animals invade homes is to create nests, or to stay warm during cold seasons, and these companies are often trained in removing entire nests with young as well as the mothers.

However, before you call pest control, it is a good idea to know what kind of animal you are dealing with. The below infographic shows exactly what to look for if you think an animal has invaded your home. Complete with tracks, fecal appearance, noises they made and damage they may do, this handy infographic is almost like a tracking guide. Use it also as a guideline for other critters that might be making themselves unwanted guests, or identify these five common animal invaders.

Amber Kingsley is a journalist as well as a lifetime pet lover. When she’s not traveling the world, she’s usually spending time at home with her pets, and wants to help others make sure that their pets are as happy as they can be.