Have you ever been peacefully enjoying your evening at home when suddenly, you hear odd noises coming from your attic? You’re not alone! As experts in wildlife and pest removal, we at Home Free Wildlife and Pest Removal are here to help you identify those mysterious attic dwellers and provide a safe, professional solution to ensure your home is critter-free in no time.
In suburban areas, the most common nuisance wildlife species you’ll encounter include raccoons, rodents, skunks, squirrels, bats, and birds. Let’s take a closer look at each of these critters and the telltale signs that they’ve taken up residence in your attic.
1. Raccoons
Raccoons are primarily active at night, producing loud and deliberate noises in your attic. You may hear them walking, scratching, and even moving around loudly, almost like a small person up there. During springtime, raccoon mothers frequently break into attics to raise their babies, which is why you may also hear chirping and other vocalizations. It’s best to contact a professional quickly if you suspect you have raccoons getting ready to have their litter in your home. It takes 8 weeks minimum for babies to be mobile therefore the alternative is having furry roommates well into the summer months.
2. Rodents
Mice and rats are known for their scurrying and scratching sounds in the middle of the night. You may also hear them squeaking or gnawing on wood or other materials. If the problem is close to an infestation, you may even spot droppings or the rodents themselves inside your home. These critters are terrified of us so they spend their time up in the attic far away from any household activity. They use the insulation in the walls to travel through your home while everyone is asleep. Oftentimes, by the time you see overt evidence such as droppings or actual mice or rats; it’s more often than not signs of an infestation. Call the pros immediately.
3. Squirrels
Squirrels keep similar hours to humans, so you’re likely to hear them stirring during dusk and dawn. They create gnawing and chewing sounds as they work on building their nests. Fun fact, Squirrel’s teeth never stop growing therefore they are constantly chewing on stuff, wires, support beams, etc.
Squirrels have their babies in the spring, therefore they are more active during the colder months. They will sometimes also have a second litter in the summer months as well. To avoid turning your attic into a breeding ground for skunks, it’s best to have the issue dealt with quickly and permanently.
4. Skunks
While skunks are more likely to be found under your deck or shed, they can still occasionally make their way into your attic. These prolific diggers enjoy burrowing under structures, and their distinctive smell is usually a dead giveaway of their presence.
By law, in Ontario, we can’t relocate the skunks further than 1km. This is done in order to control the spread of diseases as well as ensure mothers are not taken away from defenceless offspring. For these reasons, doing prevention work and excluding them from their home is the only viable solution.
5. Bats
Bats are most active at dusk. Their entry points to your attic are often found along the roofline. Look for bat guano (droppings) accumulating beneath these entry points, which indicate their comings and goings at twilight.
If you see a bat in your living space it didn’t just fly in by accident. It means you have a clone in your attic and it accidentally found its way into your living space. Call a professional immediately, Bats are a protected species and harming them is illegal.
Lastly, bat guano when ingested dry can lead to histoplasmosis, a deadly respiratory illness. A bat infestation is to be taken very seriously.
Birds
Birds will most commonly nest in your wall vents, this is a problem for several reasons: they are dirty and carry disease and bacteria. The nesting will eventually blog the air flow rendering the vent useless. Eventually, it becomes a fire hazard if the vent in question is a dryer vent.
Call a wildlife professional and they will be able to safely and chea;y remedy the situation the same day.
Conclusion
Here at Home Free Wildlife and Pest Removal, our friendly and knowledgeable team is equipped to handle all of these critters with the utmost professionalism. Our extensive experience, commitment to safety, and dedication to solving your wildlife and pest problems ensure that you can sleep soundly knowing your home is truly critter-free! With a smile, we’re here to help you get those pesky pests out of your life. Don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance or further information.