Noises in Your Attic?

With the Halloween festivities upon us, the days are drawing in and are being replaced by dark nights and chilly mornings…a frightful experience in itself after the long, hot Summer. But when laying bed at night, halfway into your slumber, are you suddenly awoken by a scraping or scratching sound somewhere from above you?

Whilst this could be October’s ghouls coming to pay you a visit, it’s likely to be something much more sinister. Something that will grow and breed in your very own attic, a living, breathing monstrosity causing foul smells and a riff of paranoia among the whole household.

If you’re hearing noises in your attic, you’ve probably got a visitor. Unfortunately for the amateur ghost hunters out there, it’s much more likely to be a pest seeking refuge than a lost soul on the prowl.

Check out this video of some ‘haunting’ sounds in an attic:

Rats

Whilst a witch’s best friend, the untamed rat can cause quite a nuisance to your attic or wall cavity. Mostly active during the night, it’s often easier to spot the signs of an infestation than the actual rodent. Here are some of the signs you need to look out for:

• Rat droppings – rat droppings are usually dark brown and torpedo-shaped, unlike a mouse which are smaller.
• Footprints – Check those lesser used areas of your attic, you may see some footprints or tail marks in dusty areas.
• Rat holes – Brown rats are known for digging large burrows that help them with shelter and to find food.
• Nests – Rats are resourceful and will shred any available material such as insulation and wood to make nests.

For further details on our Rat Control service click here.

Mice

Mice are also nocturnal creatures, preferring to keep hidden during the day and search for food from dusk till dawn. There are some common signs of mice to look out for on your property, including:

• Droppings – smaller than a rat’s droppings, at about 3-8mm in length, they will be scattered randomly.
• Urine pillars – In an infestation (usually of 2 or more mice) you will find that grease, dirt and urine will build up into small mounds of 4cm high and 1cm wide.
• Strong ammonia smell – Mice urinate frequently and their wee has a strong ammonia-like smell. But be aware that it can stay around for a long while, even after an infestation.

Details of our Mouse Control service can be found here.

Birds

You may not realise it, but your attic or out-building could be the ideal habitat for birds. Pigeons and seagulls have learnt how to survive in most environments, scavenging waste food and materials for nests. If you have broken brickwork or a gap in the chimney, it wouldn’t be impossible for birds to get into and nest in your attic or chimney. Here are some signs to look out for:

• Tall buildings/high paces – Pigeons and urban gulls use seemingly inhospitable areas of tall buildings and flat roofs to nest.
• Small gaps – Any gap larger than 25mm could be used for birds to enter your building – look out for these gaps.
• Birds sitting on ledges – Birds on the edge of your house or building for extended periods of time.
• Bird Cries – Continuous bird cries from baby chicks, usually in the very early morning.
• Bird droppings – Concentrated areas of droppings.

Unfortunately, not all birds can be removed if they are protected and not a pest. However, many urban gulls can be removed hassle-free.

Need to contact us about Bird Control, please click here.

What can I do?

Bumps in the night and scratching in the attic are never nice sounds to hear in your home but spotting even one of these signs may be enough to deduce what is making these noises. We recommend getting in touch with us here at Confirm A Kill, so we can make a more detailed inspection and initiate a plan of action.

If you can’t find the origin of these noises and they persist, then we may recommend the Ghostbusters! Happy Halloween!