Rats or Reindeer?
Rats or Reindeer? How to Tell What’s Holed Up in Your Attic This Holiday Season
The holiday season brings joy, laughter, and...mystery noises in the attic? If you've noticed unexpected droppings, peculiar noises, or odd damage to your home, you might wonder: Do I have rats, or is Santa’s reindeer team using my attic as a layover? Before you panic (or leave out extra carrots), let’s help you decipher the clues.
1. Droppings: Rat Pellets or Reindeer "Gifts"?
It’s not unusual to find droppings in Christmas ornament boxes or nestled among your garlands. But the question remains: Who left them?
Rat Droppings: Small, black, and tapered at both ends, rat droppings resemble tiny grains of rice. They’re typically found near food sources, along walls, or inside insulation.
Reindeer Droppings: Significantly larger and pellet-shaped, reindeer droppings could easily be mistaken for chocolate truffles if you’re not paying attention (but please don’t taste-test). Santa's reindeer droppings are known to have flakes of glitter, similar to unicorn poop. However unlike unicorn poop it will not be rainbow in color. Their presence is a strong indicator that you’ve hosted a hoofed guest.
If you’re finding both types...well, Santa’s workshop might need a new pest control team.
2. Sounds: Scampering or a Rooftop Rodeo?
Strange noises can be unnerving, but they’re a solid clue in identifying your visitors.
Rat Sounds: Rats are small, weighing between 250 and 600 grams. They create light scurrying noises as they dart across insulation, gnaw on wood, or raid your pantry. Think of the pitter-patter of tiny claws.
Reindeer Sounds: Reindeer, on the other hand, are significantly heftier, ranging from 120 to 550 pounds (Santa’s team leans toward the high end). Their movements resemble a miniature stampede or, quite frankly, a cow stomping on your roof. Bonus clue: if you hear jingling bells, you can probably rule out rats.
Pro tip: Rats don’t wear bells (and they definitely don’t bring presents).
3. Entry Points: A Tiny Hole or a Barn Door?
The way an animal enters your home can tell you a lot about what you’re dealing with.
Rats: Rats are escape artists of the animal kingdom, capable of squeezing through holes as small as half an inch. Look for grease rubs, chew marks, and small gnawed openings near foundations, vents, or rooflines.
Reindeer: Reindeer require a more dramatic entrance, typically needing at least 3 feet by 6 feet to squeeze through. Evidence of their visit might include hoofprints on your roof or trampled shrubbery near large, now broken windows or doors.
Worried About Visitors? Call the Experts
Whether you’re dealing with rats, reindeer, or something in between, it’s best to let professionals inspect the scene. At Gold Country Wildlife Control, we specialize in identifying and addressing unwelcome holiday guests (we can’t do anything about in-laws and no, we don’t relocate reindeer to the North Pole).
Call us today for peace of mind this holiday season—whether your problem scurries or stomps.
Happy holidays!
