What’s That Animal in the Attic?

Are you hearing scratching or scurrying noises from your ceiling? There are several kinds of evidence that animals might be living in your attic or walls, but noises are usually the most apparent and first noticed. The problem with having an animal in the attic is that without experience, it’s hard to tell what it is and how many of them there are. That’s where the experts at Batzner Pest Control can help. We’ve seen all kinds of home-invading wildlife here in Wisconsin and can help you with both identification and safe removal. Read on to learn more!

Signs of an Animal in the Attic

When you hear scampering noises or other foreign sounds coming from your attic, it’s important to look for other signs of animal activity on your property to determine the source and scope of your problem. Here are some signs of animals in the attic:

• Droppings or urine in crawl spaces and corners of your home
• Destroyed or nested-in insulation
• Torn up paper, twigs, or leaves around roofing or inside attic indicating nesting
• Bite marks from animals gnawing on structural materials or your stored belongings

Noticing any of these kinds of evidence of animals could mean that animals are living in your attic, walls, crawl spaces, or more places on your property.

Which Wild Animals are in the Attic?

Now that you’re sure there are animals upstairs, it’s important to identify them in order to deal with them safely and effectively. These are the most common attic invaders living in Wisconsin, along with the signs that give them away:

1. Rats and mice: Rats and mice often tear up insulation to build nests in our attics. They also have to constantly gnaw on things in our homes to keep their incisor teeth from overgrowing. When paired with frequent scampering sounds, you can be sure you have rodents up there.
2. Raccoons: Raccoons are strong enough to rip off shingles from your roof or chew holes in your building. Loud bumps during the night could indicate raccoon activity.
3. Squirrels: Squirrels usually enter our homes through roof vents and eave gaps, as opposed to the more destructive raccoons. Squirrel noises are usually lighter and more rapid than raccoon noises, so you can tell these pests apart through the differences in sound and damage.
4. Birds: Chirping sounds in the attic are a dead giveaway that birds are around. Nuisance birds will spread filth and diseases with their nesting and droppings, but fortunately, they make themselves known very quickly in most cases.

How to Safely Get Rid of Animals in the Attic

The best way to prevent wildlife problems is to constantly monitor your property for activity and seal off holes that could lead into your attic and walls. However, once wild animals start to nest or reproduce inside your home, your best bet is to get your local pest control company involved. At Batzner Pest Control, we train our technicians to remove all kinds of animals with safe and humane strategies, teaching our customers how to avoid similar situations in the future. Reach out today for a free quote!