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Noises in your attic or walls: what to do right now

Scratching or thumping overhead is unsettling, especially at night. It is rarely an emergency, but you do need to know what is up there. The time of day and the kind of sound are your best clues.

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Do this now

  1. 1Write down when you hear it: early morning, evening, all day or overnight.
  2. 2Note the sound: scurrying, heavy thumping, light scratching, chirping or fluttering.
  3. 3Keep the attic hatch and any wall access panels closed.
  4. 4Walk around outside and look for holes at soffits, vents, roof edges and the foundation.
  5. 5At dusk, watch the roofline to see if anything flies or climbs out.
  6. 6Look for droppings in the attic or along basement walls, but do not touch them.

Don't

  • Don't seal any hole until you know what is inside and that it has left.
  • Don't use poison in the attic or walls. Animals can die where you cannot reach them.
  • Don't reach into holes or handle droppings or nesting material with bare hands.
  • Don't trap or move wildlife without checking Michigan DNR rules first.

Get help immediately if

  • An animal is loose in your living space: close interior doors, open an exterior door, and leave the room.
  • A bat was in a room where someone was sleeping: call your doctor and local health department.
  • You smell burning plastic or see chewed wiring: call an electrician and get same-day help.

What the timing and sound tell you

Scurrying and running during the day, especially early in the morning and again in the evening, usually means tree squirrels. Heavy thumping or walking sounds at night point toward a larger animal, most often a raccoon. Light scratching or scampering at night is more often mice, rats or flying squirrels, which are small and active after dark.

Chirping or fluttering in a wall or vent often means nesting birds, usually loudest in daylight. Squeaking or scratching around dusk can mean bats, which are most active as they leave to feed. Each animal calls for a different plan, so see our pages on a squirrel in the attic, a raccoon in the house, mice and a bat in the house.

How a pro confirms what it is

If you are still not sure, a licensed wildlife control pro can inspect the attic, roofline and foundation. Droppings, chewed holes, nesting material and the size of the entry point usually make the answer clear. In spring and late summer, it may be a mother with young.

The usual fix is exclusion: animals are allowed to leave through a one-way door, then every opening is sealed. Michigan wildlife rules vary by species, licensed nuisance wildlife control operators work under Michigan DNR rules, and relocation is restricted. Check with the DNR before trapping or moving any animal yourself.

What it costs

$150 to $400per inspection visit

Many companies charge for an inspection, and some apply it to the removal price. Removal, exclusion and cleanup cost more and depend on the animal. After-hours or same-day visits often cost more. These are typical ranges, not quotes.

Typical ranges, not quotes. More on wildlife and the Michigan cost guide.

Common questions

How can I tell squirrels from mice in the attic?

Timing is the best clue. Squirrels are active by day, with the most noise early in the morning and in the evening. Mice and rats are mostly active at night and sound lighter. Droppings help too: mouse droppings are small like rice grains, while squirrel droppings are larger.

Is it a raccoon if I hear heavy noises at night?

Often, yes. Raccoons are large enough that you can hear them walking, and they are mostly active at night. In spring, a mother raccoon may be denning with kits, and you may hear chattering or crying from the young.

Will the noises stop on their own?

Sometimes they quiet down for a while, but animals that find a warm, dry spot usually stay or come back. The noise stops once the animal is out and the openings are sealed.

Other emergencies

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