What's in Your Attic?
When speaking to people about the attic, I come across a lot of people who don't dare peek inside to see what is in their attic. I can’t blame them. I sure don't want to look into my attic. It's a scary place!
But for those of you that do, you have to know what you are dealing with. The solution for raccoons is often different than the solution for squirrels.
To start, you can listen. Animals make noise; they don't think to be sneaky. They aren't trying to be a ninja assassin. Some will make a lot. It's probably how you knew you had something living in your attic to begin with.
Are the noises being heard during the day or at night?
- Squirrels
- Active during the day. Flying squirrels are the only exception and are active at night. For all squirrels you'll hear a quick scurrying or acorns rolling around or chewing. If you hear chewing, you best get to getting them out fast. Squirrels are notorious for starting house fires by chewing wires. Danger, Will Robinson, danger.
Fact: Squirrels teeth are constantly growing. That's why they chew on anything and everything. It's to “file” them down and keep them at a suitable length. - Bats
- Tend to make noises during sunset. They are leaving for the evening, so you'll hear a light scurrying along with high-pitched chirps.
- Mice
- Active during the nighttime hours, so you'll hear a fast pitter-patter.
- Raccoons
- You may hear sounds during the day, but you'll mostly hear their heavy thumping with calls and growls during the night.
Listening is only the first step and I've only mentioned the pests that predominately take up residence in attics. Start here by choosing a repellent that is specific to the animal you heard.
And another thing (that I know you may not want to hear) is that you really need to take a look or find a willing victim–er, helper–to do so.
- Squirrels
- Leave debris (other than their droppings) in the attic, such as acorns, leaves and twigs.
- Bats and Mice
- Use your attic as their personal bathroom, so that's easy enough to see.
- Others
- They're the loud ones, so you should be able to tell by listening.
You can also look for them to enter or leave around dawn and dusk.
While we love everything to be quick and easy, it may not always be the case. When dealing with animals who have their own minds and behaviors, pest control can be a process. We want it to be as painless as possible.
If you use our products and it doesn't help, reach out to us for tips, tricks and troubleshooting. You can do this by calling 1-800-657-8214, chatting, or emailing us. You may have the right product, but it just needs a tweak here and there.
Recent Articles
-
Pest Repeller Ultimate® AT vs. the Competition
“Not all pest repellers are created equal... the market has been flooded with cheap, poorly-designed repellers that make big claims but may be putting your home at safety risk. -
Is the Wiring in Your Car Attracting Rodents?
Up until the early 2000s, the insulation used to protect your car's wiring was petroleum-based. This layer is under the colorful plastic exterior that keeps your wires safe from environmental exposure, which helps maintain the longevity of the wires, and keeps them from making contact with each other. As a... -
Pests going bump in the night?
The Pest Repeller Ultimate AT may not actually keep ghosts away, but it will deter indoor pests such as mice, roaches, centipedes, scorpions, and more. -
Guardian G2 Cannon: How-To Video Guide
“With this quick video guide and the user friendly manual in your box, you will be ready to fire your first blast in minutes!” -
How to Deal With Woodpeckers
Did you know that damage caused by woodpeckers may not be covered by your homeowners insurance?! Woodpeckers, left unchecked, can cause serious damage, making holes in the siding which creates an expressway for termites, carpenter bees, rats, and many other pests to enter your home. Knowing why woodpeckers knock, how...