What is Scratching in My Attic?
Living in the diverse Northern California foothills, stretching from Nevada City up to Tahoe, means encountering a variety of wildlife. This region's unique ecosystem can bring an assortment of critters into your home, particularly into your attic. If you hear scratching sounds above you, it's crucial to identify the type of animal causing the noise to address the issue properly. Gold Country Wildlife Control (GCWC) is here to help you understand the possibilities and offer humane solutions.
Common and Rare Wildlife in Northern California Attics
In Northern California, common attic invaders include mice, squirrels, and bats. However, there are also rarer visitors like flying squirrels and weasels. Each of these animals has specific behaviors and sounds that can help you identify them.
Common Wildlife:
Mice: These small rodents are frequent attic invaders, especially during colder months. They make scratching and scurrying sounds as they move across your attic.
Squirrels: Active during the day, squirrels are known for their loud and frequent noises, including running, jumping, and scratching.
Bats: Typically heard at dusk or dawn, bats make scratching sounds accompanied by chirping, popping, clicking, and chattering. They usually stay in one spot in the attic.
Rare Wildlife:
Flying Squirrels: Nocturnal and less common, flying squirrels make thumping noises as they jump from beam to beam.
Weasels: Although rare, weasels can enter attics and make various scratching and scurrying sounds.
When Do You Hear the Scratching?
The time of day you hear scratching can help determine the type of animal in your attic.
Noises at Night:
Rats and Mice: These rodents scurry across distances as they move, creating a persistent scratching noise.
Flying Squirrels: Their jumping causes thumping noises.
Bats: These creatures make confined scratching sounds, often accompanied by chirping and chattering.
Raccoons: Their movement sounds like an even walking pattern, almost as if a person is walking in your attic.
Noises During the Day:
Squirrels: Very loud with their running, jumping, and cohabitating.
Chipmunks: Make skittering and lighter scratching noises everywhere.
Birds: You usually hear them chirping and peeping within the walls.
Identifying Animal Presence in Your Attic
Different animals leave distinctive signs in your attic:
Rats/Mice: Scattered droppings.
Bats: Guano (bat droppings) piled in one area.
Flying Squirrels: Pervasive urine stains.
Birds: Nests within the attic or walls.
Raccoons: Large droppings and flattened insulation.
Solutions for Attic Wildlife
Once you've identified the type of animal in your attic, it's crucial to take appropriate action:
Seal Entry Points: Prevent further entry by sealing gaps and holes.
Remove Animals: Use humane methods to remove the intruders. Gold Country Wildlife Control specializes in this process.
Sanitize: Clean and sanitize the area to prevent health issues and attractants.
Expert Wildlife Removal Services
Gold Country Wildlife Control provides expert animal removal services across Nevada County, El Dorado County, Tahoe, Truckee, and Grass Valley. Our team specializes in bat removal, squirrel removal, and handling various other wildlife issues. If you're wondering, "What animal is making noise in my attic?" or dealing with "scratching in the attic," contact us for professional and humane solutions.
Identifying and addressing the source of scratching noises in your attic is essential for maintaining a safe and comfortable home. With Gold Country Wildlife Control, you can rest assured that your wildlife problems will be handled effectively and humanely.
