7 Signs You Have Animals in Your Attic This Fall
When temperatures drop, attics start to look like a good place to spend the winter. Most homeowners do not notice right away. These are the signs worth watching for.
1. Scratching or running sounds overhead
Squirrels are active in the daytime, so you may hear movement in the morning and late afternoon. Bats tend to be heard as faint squeaking or rustling around dusk and dawn. Timing can help tell them apart. See When Are Bats Most Active Around Your Home?.
2. Droppings in the attic or near the house
Droppings differ by animal. Do not handle them with bare hands, and avoid sweeping them dry, since dust can be harmful to breathe.
3. A persistent odor
A musty, ammonia-like or sour smell that does not go away can point to animal activity, urine or nesting. Our post on what causes animal odors around your home explains the common sources.
4. Stains or damp spots on ceilings
Brown spots can come from urine soaking through insulation. They can also come from a roof leak, so it is worth checking both.
5. Chewed wood, wiring or flattened insulation
Gnawed edges around the eaves or roofline, or insulation pushed into tunnels and nests, are signs something has moved in.
6. Damage or gaps at the roofline
Look from the ground for loose soffit, lifted vent covers or gaps near the eaves. These are classic entry points. Read How to Prevent Squirrels From Entering Your Eaves for what to look for.
7. Animals seen coming and going
Watching the roofline around dusk or early morning can show where an animal enters or leaves. Bats in particular can fit through very small openings, as explained in How to Prevent Bat Entry Into Your Home Safely.
What to do if you notice these signs
Do not seal anything yet. An animal sealed inside, or young left behind, creates a bigger problem.
Stay out of the attic if you can, and keep pets away.
Write down what you hear, when you hear it and where.
Have a wildlife professional inspect. A proper inspection finds the entry points and the species involved, so the plan is humane and fits the situation.
After the animals are out, close the openings the right way. See How to Seal Animal Entry Points Without Trapping Wildlife.
Get it checked before winter
The sooner you act, the less time an animal has to nest, and the less damage there is to deal with later.
Hearing something upstairs? Contact Harvey's Animal Evictions through the contact form or booking button on our website, or call us at (800) 692-0406, and we will take it from there.
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