CritterChatter™ Blog
Animal Noise Blog
What are common noises people hear when animals are trapped within their homes?
I most commonly hear people say that they hear scampering or footsteps across the ceiling; sometimes these are fast and light, other times they will call the police because they think they have a homeless person living in their attics. Sometimes they hear scratching and shuffle, like noises in the walls or even in the chimney. We like to follow up with what time the noises are mostly heard, like day or night. This will help us determine if the critter is nocturnal or a day walker. So if you are hearing noises, keep the time of day or the frequency of the noises in mind when calling your Critter Control agent, this will help in the process of diagnose and removal.
- Mike Rossi
Critter Control of Greater Nashville LLC
And don't forget those 9 volt noises from the smoke alarms. Change the batteries each time you change the clocks!
- Ed Carrow
Critter Control of Tampa Bay
This does happen frequently, as homeowners sometimes mistake the smoke detector low battery signal for a bird in the home.
- Sean Carruth
Vice President of Communications, Critter Control
Clients describe many different noises but the two most common would be scratching or foot steps. They also can hardly believe that "all that scratching" could be a mouse. "I can't believe a mouse could make that loud of a noise." Well they also can't believe a mouse is responsible for filling a winter boot with a cache of dog food pellets. But the facts are the facts and when you find only signs of mice in an attic, and then treat for mice, and a week later everything is quiet, they become believers. Foot steps, I explain, should not be mice as the mice are so small and they would run on top of insulation. Rapidly moving foot steps, probably a squirrel. Slower moving, probably a raccoon or two. Scratching can also be from bats getting more comfortable in their hibernation. In the summer I will ask if the scratching sound is moving or stationary, as I would only expect a bat to make a moving sound as they move toward their exit. Since bats don't chew, a mouse or squirrel would be more likely the invader if it is clearly a chewing sound.
- Curt Baker
Critter Control of Central Michigan
