Noises coming from your walls do not always mean wildlife encroachment. Sounds that are mechanical in nature, such as vibrations from machinery or ductwork expanding and contracting, can be mistaken for animal activity. Nevertheless, animals such as squirrels, mice, rats, and sometimes raccoons can get into the wall voids. If you are not sure that the sounds are not mechanical, you should call Skedaddle for rat removal as soon as possible. There are many ways of determining what exactly is causing the noise, whether it is an animal and, if so, which one.

The Time of Occurrence

Certain animals are active at different times of the day, so if the noise occurs consistently at the same time, it can give you a clue as to what is causing it. Squirrels sleep at night and go out during the day to gather food. Therefore, if you hear the sounds mostly in the early morning and evening, it could be squirrels. Rats, mice, and raccoons are nocturnal, so you’re more likely to hear the noises they make at night. On the other hand, if the noise occurs periodically throughout the day, or appears to be random, it may not be an animal at all. The source of the sound is probably mechanical in nature.

The Quality of the Sound

The quality of the sound can give you a clue as to what animal is causing it. For example, raccoons and skunks are large animals, and wall voids are a tight fit for them, so they will likely make loud sounds of hissing, crying, and scratching as they try to get out. In the case of a skunk, this may be accompanied by a foul smell.

Squirrels, mice, and rats are smaller animals. They don’t get trapped in the wall voids; rather, they use them to store food. Being rodents, these animals have an instinctual need to chew to keep their teeth filed down, so you may hear scratching or chewing noises. Sometimes they make squeaking vocalizations, and as the rodents climb around, they may make rustling noises. Squirrels are more boisterous and may make louder noises as they scamper around. They have long claws that scratch the wood.

The Reaction to Outside Noises

If you can hear the animals in your walls, it stands to reason that the animals can hear you as well. This can be used to your advantage when trying to figure out what kind of animal it is. Carefully, without hurting yourself or causing any damage to your home, hit the wall where the sounds are coming from to make a loud banging noise. If the sounds stop, the culprits are most likely mice or rats. However, if the sounds continue, and have a scurrying quality, you more likely have squirrels.

The Other Signs That Are Present

If there are wild animals present in your home, they are likely leaving signs other than the sounds they make. For example, rats and mice make holes in the walls by chewing so they can get into the house and forage for food. You may see containers in the pantry with holes in them or chew marks on them. Rats scurry along the walls at night and because their fur is greasy, you may see the rub marks near the baseboards in the morning. Animal droppings are a telltale sign of the presence of wildlife in your home, and the size and shape of the feces can provide a clue as to what animal you are dealing with.

Call for Wildlife Control in Markham Right Away

You don’t have to rule out a mechanical source for the sounds before you contact Skedaddle. If wildlife is the cause, it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible to avoid exposure to disease and damage to your home. Find out more about the services we offer in Markham.