An attic is the most common place we find nuisance wildlife. Animals like raccoons and squirrels can use the attic to build nests, give birth, or escape the elements.
If you’ve been hearing bumps in the night, peculiar scratching, or even the pitter-patter of tiny feet directly above your head, you’re not alone. Most people don’t think about how much of a problem an animal in the attic is until they have an animal in the attic.
Why Animals Are in Your Attic
Shelter, Warmth, Safety
The primary drives for any animal are simple: find food, stay safe, and raise your young. Your attic checks all the boxes.
To an animal, it’s not just a storage space; it’s a five-star hotel. Your attic offers unparalleled shelter from the elements—scorching sun, torrential rain, and biting cold. It’s a remarkably safe haven from predators. And perhaps most importantly, it’s a warm, dry place to build a nest or a den to give birth and wean their young.
Animals Most Likely to Be in Your Attic
Let’s dive into the common culprits. While nature is full of surprises, a few species consistently top the list of attic invaders. Knowing their habits, sounds, and tell-tale signs will give you a significant advantage in identifying your specific tenant.
Most Common Signs of Animals in Attic:
- Sounds or Noises
- Damage
- Droppings/Feces
- Strange Odors
Jump to Attic Invader
Squirrels: The Acrobatic Acorn Hiders
You’re most likely to find a squirrel in the attic during the spring and winter. Their agility and climbing ability grant them access to all parts of your roof. Their persistent chewing can gnaw through most building materials.
Recognizing a Squirrel Infestation
If you hear frantic scampering, rolling sounds (like nuts dropping), or gnawing during the daytime, especially in the morning or late afternoon, your attic likely hosts squirrels. You might also spot gnaw marks around entry points, shredded insulation, or even caches of nuts and seeds tucked away for later. Their droppings are small, pellet-like, and often scattered.
Why Squirrels Are in the Attic
Squirrels are driven by two primary instincts: shelter and storage. They’re excellent climbers and will exploit even the smallest gaps in fascia boards, soffits, or rooflines. Once inside, your attic offers an ideal, dry, and predator-free pantry for their winter food stores. It also provides a remarkably cozy spot to build a nest and raise their young.
Raccoons: The Clever Night Raiders
Raccoons, with their masked faces and dexterous paws, are perhaps the most intelligent and destructive of attic inhabitants.
Spotting the Signs of a Raccoon Family
The sounds of raccoons are distinct: heavy thumping, dragging, and loud growling or chattering, almost exclusively at night. Look for significant damage around entry points, like destroyed soffits, torn apart shingles, or bent vents, as raccoons are intense and persistent. Their feces are larger, tubular, and often contain undigested food items, frequently found in communal “latrines.” You might also notice distinct paw prints in dust or insulation.
Why Raccoons Den in Your Attic
Raccoons are mothers seeking safe places to create a den. Attics share the same qualities as a hollow tree, the ideal raccoon denning location. The insulation offers warmth, and the enclosed space protects their vulnerable young from predators and the elements. They’ll go to great lengths to create an entry point, and once inside, they can cause extensive damage to insulation, electrical wiring, and ductwork while setting up their den.
Rats and Mice
Rodents like rats and mice are among the most common and destructive pests. While they might be small, their numbers can rapidly explode, turning a minor inconvenience into a serious infestation and health hazard.
Signs of Rodents in the Attic
The sounds of rats and mice are generally light, rapid scurrying, scratching, and gnawing, often audible after dark. Unlike squirrels, their movements are less frenetic and more exploratory. You’ll find small, dark, rice-grain-sized droppings (mice) or larger, pellet-shaped droppings (rats) along walls, near food sources, or in undisturbed corners. Gnaw marks on wood, wires, or storage boxes are also common, as is the distinct musky odor of a large rodent population.
Why Are Rats and Mice in Your Attic
Rats and mice create nests close to a food source. They don’t travel more than 90 feet from their nest. While your attic might not have a direct food source, it offers a secure, warm, and hidden highway to other parts of your home where food is plentiful.
The insulation is a perfect nesting material and a cozy environment to raise their numerous litters. They can enter through tiny gaps – a mouse can squeeze through a dime-sized hole, and a rat through a quarter-sized one – making exclusion a meticulous task.
Bats: The Nocturnal Neighbors
Bats are often misunderstood creatures, essential to our ecosystems but certainly not ideal attic residents. If you discover bats, it’s typically a colony, not a lone individual.
Identifying a Bat Colony in the Attic
The most common sign of bats is not sound, but sight. You might observe bats flying out of a small crevice in your roofline or eaves around dusk, and returning at dawn. Inside, look for dark staining (guano stains) around potential entry points, caused by the oils in their fur. Bat guano, distinct from rodent droppings, crumbles easily into dust, often found in piles directly beneath their roosting spots. It may also have a faint, ammonia-like odor. You might hear faint chirping or rustling sounds, particularly on warm evenings or mornings.
Why Attics Make Ideal Bat Roosts
Attics provide bats with a warm, dark, and sheltered environment that mimics the caves or hollow trees they would use in nature. This is especially true for maternity colonies, where female bats gather to give birth and raise their pups. The warmth helps their young grow quickly, and the security of the attic protects them from predators. These colonies can number in the hundreds or even thousands, and while beneficial outside, their guano can accumulate and cause structural damage and health risks inside your home.
Birds in the Attic
While less common than mammals, certain birds can find their way into attics, particularly if there are open vents, broken windows, or structural gaps.
Signs of Birds in the Attic
You’ll hear chirping, flapping, and scratching, typically during daylight hours. If a bird is trapped, the sounds might be frantic. If they’ve nested, the sounds will be more regular and accompanied by the distinct calls of hatchlings. Look for nesting materials like twigs, leaves, and feathers, especially around open vents or gaps in the roofline. You might also find droppings, which are often white and semi-liquid.
Why Birds Nest in Attics
Birds primarily seek a safe, enclosed space to build a nest and raise their young, much like raccoons. Open dryer vents, unscreened gable vents, or even gaps in siding can be irresistible entry points. Once inside, the attic provides warmth and protection from predators, allowing them to nurture their brood until they’re ready to fledge.
Opossums in the Attic
Opossums are North America’s only marsupial, and while they look a bit like large rats, they are generally less destructive than raccoons, though still unwelcome.
Signs of Opossums in the Attic
Opossums are nocturnal, so you’ll hear slow, heavy thumping or dragging sounds at night, similar to a raccoon but often less frantic. They tend to be solitary, so you won’t hear the chorus of a family. Their droppings are dark, tubular, and often larger than cat droppings, with tapered ends, and may be found in corners. You might also notice a musky odor. Entry points are often larger, low to the ground, or through damaged foundation vents, though they can climb.
Why Opossums Get into the Attic
Opossums are opportunistic scavengers looking for warmth, shelter, and a safe place to rest during the day. An attic provides exactly that, especially during cold weather. They are less prone to nesting extensively or causing the widespread damage associated with raccoons, but their presence can still lead to contamination, unpleasant odors, and potential damage to insulation.
What to Do When Your Discover Animals in the Attic
Finding evidence of an animal problem in the attic can be alarming. Your first reaction needs to be safety for you and your family and minimize the risk.
1: Do Not Approach!
These are wild animals. Do not attempt to handle these critters. They are unpredictable, can carry diseases (like rabies or leptospirosis), and may become aggressive if cornered, especially if they are mothers protecting their young. Maintain a safe distance and observe from afar if possible, to help identify the species.
2: Minimize the Risk
If nothing else, don’t go into the attic and keep it closed. If possible, you can attempt to remove some important items stored in the attic.
Get Professional Help
This is where a professional wildlife removal service becomes invaluable. They have the expertise, specialized equipment, and knowledge of animal behavior to safely and humanely remove the animals. More importantly, they understand local regulations regarding wildlife, particularly for protected species such as bats, and can ensure animals are relocated responsibly. They’ll also be able to identify entry points and assess any damage accurately.
How We Prevent Animals in the Attic
Once the animals are gone, the work isn’t over. Preventing their return is crucial for long-term peace of mind.
Identifying Entry Points
Walk around the exterior of your home, paying close attention to your roofline, eaves, soffits, fascia boards, and vents. Look for gaps, cracks, broken screens, or any opening larger than a quarter-inch for mice, or a half-inch for rats. Damaged chimney caps, loose flashing, and even deteriorated siding can all be potential entryways. Think like a curious animal: where would you find a way in?
Long-term Exclusion Strategies
Once identified, all entry points must be sealed with durable, animal-proof materials. Use heavy-gauge wire mesh (hardware cloth), sheet metal, or concrete mortar. Ensure all vents are securely screened. Trim tree branches that hang over your roof, creating a “bridge” for squirrels and raccoons. Consider adding a chimney cap if you don’t have one. Regularly inspect your roof and exterior for new vulnerabilities. The goal is to make your home an impenetrable fortress against wildlife.
We Protect Your Attic from Animals
Discovering animals in your attic is a common, though unwelcome, homeowner experience. By understanding who the most likely culprits are, recognizing their specific signs, and taking proactive steps for removal and exclusion, you can transform your attic from a wildlife resort back into a safe, secure part of your home. Remember, patience, careful observation, and professional assistance are your best tools in this endeavor. Reclaim your space and enjoy the quiet sanctity of a wildlife-free home.