One of the signs that draw the attention of homeowners to the presence of unwanted guests in the form of rodents and other pests is noticeable noise in the roof of their homes. These rodents are usually rats and mice, or possums which are not rodents but marsupials.
Have you found yourself laying in bed at night hearing scratches in your roof? This could be the sound of pests living in the roof. Pests such as rats, mice and squirrels will all be very happy living in your roof or loft. It's warm, cosy and dry.
Rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, bats, opossums, and birds are among the most common culprits in this kind of situation. Scratching noises coming from your walls or ceiling is a solid indicator that an animal has made its way into your house. It could be a wild critter trapped inside, unable to get out.
Some of the usual suspects are rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, bats, opossums, or birds. Finding out which specific animal makes the scratching noises in the attic helps homeowners or exterminators decide which pest control method works best.
If you tend to hear the scratching noises more frequently during the day, you're likely dealing with squirrels that have found a way into your walls. On the other hand, scratching noises at night tend to point towards mice or rats, both of which are nocturnal, unlike squirrels.
Place mothballs. Mothballs are a great rat repellent as they are poisonous to them. You can place a good amount of them in your attic, basement, kitchen, yard, or in any other area where you suspect rat presence.
The first sign of mice in your ceiling or attic will be the sounds. You'll hear the skitter of their little claws across your ceiling tiles or occasional squeaks. Gnawing and digging sounds are additional signs of an infestation. Since mice are nocturnal, these sounds will be most evident at night.
Common pest birds that are most likely to live in your roof in Australia include: pigeons, seagulls, house sparrows, starlings, and Indian mynas. Some of these birds nest in large numbers and can cause a serious problem when they infest your property.
As possums are nocturnal they generally move around at night. They have a heavy thumping movement across a roof or ceiling (described by some as sounding like an elephant walking on the roof!). Possums also cough and make hissing noises. Rats make a pitter patter sound on the roof or ceiling when moving about.
Scratching Sounds - Scratching and gnawing sounds may indicate a rodent type animal such as a mouse, rat or squirrel. Flapping - Flapping sounds can indicate birds have nested in your attic, birds will be most active in early morning. Bird can cause heavy damage to your property and must be swiftly dealt with.
If you're hearing scratching noises in the ceiling of your home, don't panic. Chances are, it's just an unfortunate rat or mouse. Rats and mice sometimes seek refuge in the roof space of homes and offices, and they can often be heard scurrying along and scratching around up there.
Squeaking and scratching sounds are some of the most common signs that there are rats in the ceiling. If you're able to look in your attic or the space where the sounds are coming from, you may see these other signs.
Rats tend to make a scuttering sound, as their claws tip-tap across your roof cavity. Possums are larger animals and often make more noise. Running sounds and scratching sounds coming from your roof is a good indicator that you've got a possum infestation.
The usual signs of having a possum in the roof are heavy bangs on the ceiling or roof at night as they run around, hissing and coughing noises coming from your roof, or stains on your ceiling or a strong ammonia smell caused by their urine.
Possums are known to break roof tiles, damage ceilings and chew on electrical wires. These problems are all expensive ones to fix, and the longer it goes on, the more you'll have to pay in repairs once the possums are caught and released.
Repel possums by sprinkling the roof cavity with quassia chips (from hardware stores), and putting a light into the roof cavity and leaving it on for three days and nights. The combination of the light and the smell should drive the possum out of your roof and hopefully into the possum house you have provided.
Natural deterrents utilize scents or substances that roof rats find unpleasant to keep them away from the house. Mothballs, chili pepper flakes, garlic, and peppermint oil, clove oil, or tea tree oil are all effective deterrents that some homeowners may already have on hand.
The two main types of rats that we are likely to see in Australia are the Rattus norvegicus and the Roof rat. These rat species generally eat different types of food and live in different types of habitats.
Any noises that involve thumping, scurrying, scratching and chewing, are usually associated with animals in the roof. Rats and mice are the most common culprits and like to run around in the eaves and get into small cavities in between walls.
What Are Mice Doing When You Hear Scratching? Scratching noises indicate mice are climbing, crawling, or digging inside your walls, and it also means that they are gnawing on your drywall, insulation, electrical wires, or pipes.
The first and most noticeable difference between roof rats and mice is their size. A roof rat, which is pictured above, is about twice as big as a mouse. A full-grown mouse will grow to just a few inches long, not including the tail. A full-grown roof rat's body, on the other hand, will be six to eight inches long.
If you have heard scratching noises in the walls of your house but haven't yet seen any critters, the best thing to do is call a Critter Removal company. The professionals will come out and inspect your house. Remember that although these critters may look harmless, like mice, they can host multiple diseases.