Scratching Noises in the Attic

"I hear an animal in my attic."

We get a lot of call like that, especially in the summer. And truthfully, if it weren't for the seriousness of the subject, these calls would be pretty amusing. People can be pretty creative when they're trying to imitate the animal noises they've been hearing.

But hearing animal noises in the attic is no laughing matter. Animals living in your attic can create all kinds of health and safety risks.

Animals in the Attic

There are quite a few animals who commonly take up residence in the attics of homes, office buildings, and other structures. Although they may seem harmless, all of these animals can cause problems that can include diseases, structural damage, and fires.

• Birds and bats, for example, contaminate the attic with their droppings (which can cause serious diseases such as histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis), shed hair or feathers, and parasites. Bird nests can also create a fire hazard.

• Squirrels often migrate into attics in the fall. In addition to the physical damage they cause when enlarging their entry holes, squirrels also contaminate the attic with their droppings, shed hair, and parasites, and can damage electrical wiring and cause fires when they chew electrical wiring.

• Rats, especially roof rats, also get into attics very frequently. Like squirrels and other rodents, rats can cause damage and start fires by gnawing on electrical wiring, and spread diseases such as plague, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, murine typhus, rat-bite fever, salmonella, and leptospirosis.

• Raccoons sometimes get into attics and/or chimneys, where they can cause serious structural damage. Raccoons can also transmit several very serious diseases including rabies and mange, as well as other diseases transmitted by their parasites. Raccoons will also attack when cornered and can inflict serious injuries.

Trapping and Controlling Animals in Attics

Safe, effective removal of animals in the attic, like all humane animal control, consists of several steps. In the case of attic animals, these steps are:

1. Identify the animal. Knowing the animal you're dealing with, its habits, and its food preferences is vital to effective control

2. Identify entry, exit, and travel routes. This helps in setting traps most effectively, as well serving as a blueprint for repairs.

3. Trap and remove animals from the attic, and use exclusion techniques to keep animals out of the attic. The exact methods used vary with the specie of animal living in the attic.

4. Repair the animal damage. This may involve sealing, replacing shingles or siding, closing holes and gaps, and replacing insulation.

Animals in the attic can be dangerous. If you're hearing animal sounds coming from your attic, contact us right away. We'll send one of our professional Animal Control Specialists to inspect your property and, if necessary, suggest the best treatment to safely and humanely remove animals out of your attic, and perform exclusion to keep them out permanently.

Rid-A-Critter provides attic animal control in Atlanta, Athens, Macon, Columbus, Peachtree City, Roswell, Sandy Springs, and all of Northern and Central Georgia.