Are noises in your attic a sign of pests?

Discovering signs of mice, rats, and other pests is every homeowner’s worst nightmare, and understandably so. Vermin can multiply fast, spreading nasty germs and diseases. They can also cause catastrophic damage by gnawing through woodwork, furniture and electric wiring, putting your home at risk of flooding or fire.

Unfortunately, dark, quiet, rarely disturbed loft spaces are perfect breeding grounds for pests. So, if things go bump in the night, it’s time to investigate and call in the experts. Read on to learn the telltale signs of pests and how a professional pest controller can help.

Telltale signs of mice and rats

If you suspect mice or rats are in your attic, your first instinct will be to speed dial your nearest pest control professional. But before doing that, it’s a good idea to inspect the attic yourself for signs of habitation.

Signs of mice

One cute, furry mouse might seem harmless. But rodents multiply fast, so this isn’t a problem to ignore. Signs of mice in the home include:

• Smell – A stale ammonia odour. It is not as noticeable if one or two mice are on the loose. But if you’re dealing with an infestation, a foul odour is one of the first giveaways
• Droppings – Mice droppings are a dark brown/black colour, spindle-shaped with pointy ends, and roughly the size of a grain of rice (1/2 cm)
• Noises ­­– If there’s enough of them you might hear faint scratching
• Gnaw marks – Nibbles and holes in your electric cabling, woodwork or stored items in the loft are all warning signs
• Signs of shredding – Shredded paper, plastic, fabric or loft insulation are all favourites for mice building nests

Signs of rats

Discovering rats in your attic is distressing, but it’s more common than you’d think. Rats can squeeze through small holes the size of a ten-pence piece and climb as high as five feet, meaning loft spaces aren’t out of bounds.

Here are the telltale signs of rats to look out for:

• Rat smells – A foul ammonia odour caused by the rodent’s urine
• Decomposing smells – If you’ve attempted to lay a trap previously, that could be the cause
• Rat droppings – Rats leave dark, pellet-shaped droppings around 1 ½ to 2cm in size. They are noticeably larger than mouse droppings
• Noises ­­– Distinct gnawing, scratching and squeaking noises point to rats
• Gnaw marks – Inspect your stored items in a loft space and wiring for signs of gnawing
• Rats nest – Like mice, rats love to shred paper, plastic, fabric and loft insulation to build nests

Signs of other pests

Unfortunately, rats and mice aren’t the only pests fond of setting up homes in warm, quiet attics. Birds, squirrels, bats, and other creeping critter insects can also find their way in.

Let’s look at the common tell-tale signs of other pests that could be in your loft space:

Birds

• Noises – birds flapping or chirping
• Droppings
• Nests

Squirrels

• Noises – scratching sounds
• Droppings – similar in size to rat droppings, about 1 ½ to 2cm

Bats

• Noises – distinct vocals at night
• Droppings – dark brown or black and 4-8mm long, much smaller than other rodents

Wasps and flies

• Noises – continuous, loud buzzing sound
• Sightings – can often be seen in window fixtures or floor cavities in your loft space
• Nests – wasp’s nests resemble a papery balloon or rugby ball. For flies, look for a small cluster of black spots (eggs). If not treated, fly clusters will return year after year

When to call in the professionals

Less squeamish homeowners might be tempted to save money by setting traps, poison, or smoke bombs themselves. However, mice, rats, and other vermin multiply at an alarming rate. Therefore, we always suggest getting the experts in to eliminate them fast – once and for all.

To start your search for experienced pest controllers near you, enter your postcode in the box below. All our members must pass up to 12 checks to be listed in our directory.

Top tip – Look for a professional pest controller who’s also a British Pest Control Association (BPCA) member. That way, you can be sure you’re eliminating the pests humanely and efficiently. They also have a pesticide licence if this method of treatment is needed.

You can read about the typical methods used to eliminate mice and rats from your home in our expert guide.

How much does a pest control professional charge?

How much you can expect to pay to remove pests from your home depends on the scale of the problem and the method of treatment recommended.

However, on average, pest control services cost around £180, including materials and tools. Why not look at our pest control cost guide for more detailed information?

Final thoughts

• Never ignore telltale signs of pests – if you act fast, it could stop an infestation
• Always hire professionals – this is one job where experience is crucial
• Maintenance is key to preventing a pest infestation