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Hear Animals in The Attic? Here’s What to Do

December 27th, 2019

Old, run-down attic

As a professional wildlife removal company, one of the common things we hear from our clients when they call is “I have an animal in my attic.”

If you live in a home with an attic, it’s an area where nuisance wildlife can frequently enter and nest in. Although they might not spend a lot of time up there, an animal’s presence can cause some long term damage to your home and be a frightening thing to deal with as a homeowner.

Keep reading to find out the types of animals in your attic, risks of animals in your attic, signs of animals in your attic, and what to do if you find animals in your attic.

What Kinds of Animals Live in The Attic?

Depending on where you are geographically, there are quite a few different creatures that could be taking up residence in your attic. Here are some of the most common animals we find that need to be removed from attics in Southwest Florida:

  • Rodents or Rats – Roof rats, also known as palm rats, often nest in Florida homes.
  • Squirrels – if you are hearing scampering noises during the day, a squirrel has probably gotten access to your attic.
  • Raccoons – Racoons are capable of ripping shingles and soffit off and ripping holes in weak areas of a building. If they can loosen a shingle or create an opening in the roof, they can enter your attic and stay.

Risk of Animals in Your Attic

We all know having an unwanted animal in your attic is probably not a good thing. But what are the specific dangers associated with having an animal in the attic?

  • Long term damage – most animals are going to gnaw and claw at the walls and floors of your attic, which can cause damage to the insulation, ductwork, wires, and sheetrock in the attic. They also will release excrement, which will cause a foul smell and can also cause damage to wood and sheetrock when left to fester in the attic, especially in the Southwest Florida heat.
  • Disease – Animals living in the attic can carry disease to you, your family, or your pets. Many common animals that are found in the attic can carry mites, ticks, and fleas that can spread throughout your home. The urine and feces that they leave behind can also cause disease if someone in your home comes in contact with it. Dust spread throughout your home can become contaminated with diseases caused by the creatures in your attic, which can cause disease as well.
  • Disturbance – An obvious danger you will encounter from having an animal in your home is the disturbance caused by them. Activities the animals will engage in – from feeding, mating, to normal communication – will cause unwanted noise that can be alarming to your family. Because many animals are nocturnal, they can often disturb sleep.

Signs of Animals in Your Attic

As previously mentioned, the noises you will hear are usually an early indicator of animals in the attic. There are a few specific noises to look for, and they might indicate which animal you are dealing with.

  • Gnawing or squeaking, especially at night, will often be from rats who are nocturnal.
  • Scampering or scurrying noises are typically from squirrels or rodents.
  • Purrs, whimpers, snarls, growls, hissing or screaming noises are most likely from raccoons.

There are a few other signs that will signal you that there is nuisance wildlife in your attic:

  • Animal droppings or urine
  • Nests made of paper, leaves or twigs
  • Disturbed insulation
  • Ducts ripped apart
  • Animal tracks left in dust
  • Entry holes on the exterior of your home

If you find any of these signs in or around your attic, especially combined with hearing noises, that’s a clear sign that there is an unwanted critter living in your attic.

Get Professional Wildlife Removal Service for Animals in Your Attic

Because each of the common animals you find in your attic are all different, there are different ways to handle them.

Rats are often best to remove with lethal traps and exclusion work, while squirrels are often easier removed with live traps or a one-way exclusion door. There are DIY ways to remove animals from your attic, but since each situation will be different and for the best results, we recommend working with a professional wildlife removal company.

Alford Wildlife is a licensed wildlife removal company in Southwest Florida that has expertise in a variety of areas including animal removal, animal relocation, animal exclusion, decontamination, insulation, and population management.

If you have nuisance animals in your attic, we can remove it safely and make sure that they won’t come back. For help with removing animals from your attic, or any other nuisance wildlife or pest control needs, contact Alford Wildlife online or call us at (239) 245-7482 today!

 

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