You lie in bed and hear something above you. It could be scratching, scurrying, thumping or rolling. Each of those is a clue, and together with the time of night and the location they can point to a species. This article is a field guide to the sounds, not a diagnosis, and a technician confirms what is there.
Questions to ask yourself.
- What time does it start and stop.
- Where is it loudest: attic, wall, floor or ceiling.
- Is it light and fast or heavy and slow.
- Does it repeat in the same path.
- Does it change with the weather or the heating cycle.
Write down the answers for a few nights. Patterns appear quickly.
A rough sound guide.
| What you hear. | Likely source. | Remarks. |
|---|---|---|
| Quick, light scratching inside walls after dark. | Mice. | A tick-tick rhythm low along the wall. |
| Heavier scurrying and thumping overhead at night. | Rats. | Bigger animals that gnaw and drag things. |
| Bounding and running in the attic by day. | Squirrels. | Daytime movers with loud footfalls. |
| Fluttering and chirping at vents in spring. | Birds. | Nesting season, around eaves and vents. |
| Ticking that tracks the heating or cooling cycle. | The house itself. | Pipes, ducts and framing expanding and shrinking. |
| Heavy thumps and scraping overnight. | Larger animals. | Raccoons or opossums can get into attics. |
This table is a starting point. Some animals overlap, and conditions change the sounds. Treat it as a way to prepare for the call.
Mice, rats and what they leave.
Mouse pellets are slim, pointed and rice-sized, and mice chew small holes. Rat pellets are larger and the holes bigger, with oily rub marks possible on beams. Recent droppings look dark and damp; old ones are gray and crumbly.
Look near the sound. If you find droppings, photograph them with a coin for scale. The mouse page and the rat page explain what each visit involves.
Squirrels and other daytime animals.
Squirrels run along roofs and tree limbs in the daytime and nest in attics, especially in spring. They are larger and louder than rats, and they gnaw wooden eaves and fascia boards. A technician can help determine whether you have squirrels, and may refer you to a wildlife specialist if the animal is not a rodent we handle.
Other animals, including raccoons and opossums, may also enter attics. We focus on rodents, and we say when an animal is outside our work.
Hearing it again at 2 a.m.? Dial, and planning begins.
(818) 791-1810When it is probably the house.
Wood and metal change size as temperatures change. Ducts tick when the heating comes on, pipes knock when water runs and roofs creak when the sun warms them. If the sound follows the thermostat or the sun, and you see no droppings or gnaw marks, it may be the house.
Still, if you are unsure, a short inspection costs less than a long night of worry.
Steps to take meanwhile.
- Do not disturb droppings, and keep the room off limits to children and pets.
- Do not seal holes before the animals are gone.
- Do not use bait or poison.
- Record the sounds on your phone, with the time.
- Keep a note of any smell or visible damage.
The CDC box on this page explains safe cleanup if you decide to clean before the visit.
Making the call.
Tell the person answering when the sound started, where it is loudest and what it seems like. Mention any droppings, chewing or smells. They book the visit, and the technician starts with an inspection. The inspection page explains what the written estimate contains.
Five safeguards for droppings and nest scraps.
Dried rodent waste breaks into fine particles, so the safe way to deal with it is slow and damp. These steps follow public health guidance and apply even if you never book a visit.
- A single dry pellet can crumble at a touch and release a cloud you cannot see.
- Open every window you can reach, then step outside for a half hour.
- Gloves go on first, come off last and end up in the trash bag.
- Let the liquid sit for around five minutes; the wait does the disinfecting.
- Two bags keep the waste contained until pickup.
- Swap into clean clothes before you sit down to eat.
Primary sources, one click away.
Open these when you want the full reasoning behind a step.
- CDC pointers on preventing hantavirus: Close holes, store food well and clear nesting spots around the home.
- CDC page on safe cleanup indoors: Handling urine, pellets and shredded nesting while keeping dust down.