By turning on bright lights and a radio, you can make your attic an unpleasant environment to encourage raccoons to leave on their own. To determine whether raccoons are using a suspected entry hole, stuff rags or bunched up paper in the holes and check to see if they've been disturbed.
The species that I find in attics are for the most part, species that either fly or climb. These species are comfortable at heights and a hole somewhere near your roofline reminds them of home. The most common source of attic noise is Gray Squirrels, Flying Squirrels, mice, bats, Raccoons, birds.
If you're hearing thumping noises, it's one of the surefire signs you have a raccoon in the attic. No other urban pest is big enough to create stomping noises. Squirrels will scurry and bang around, but a raccoon literally will sound like a small person is in there.
Usually, a local animal removal service will charge a flat fee of $150 to $250 for basic trapping and removal. But it becomes more expensive when animals are in hard-to-reach places. These hard-to-reach spaces include: Attic removal costs: $200–$1,500.
Wildlife and Pest Control
If you hear scratching in your attic, it might be a good idea to contact an expert that can deal with both rodent pests & wildlife. In most states, pest control & wildlife removal are two separate licenses.
Signs of Opossums in the Attic
Scratching, scampering, and rustling sounds coming from the attic, especially at night when they are awake and active. Strange noises in the attic also include their vocalizations, such as grunts, hisses, clicking, and screeches.
The most common animals that live in an attic are raccoons, squirrels, bats, mice, and rats. Getting rid of an animal in the attic requires more than setting a trap.
Attics are common target areas for all types of pests, including rodents, spiders, bees, and termites. While the type of infestation and the process of getting rid of it may vary, the average cost of attic pest removal ranges between $200–650. Find attic pest control in your area.
Bats pose very little direct danger to people, but it is not a good thing to have bats in the attic. One of the biggest bat problems is the collection of bat droppings, also called guano.
One of the most common causes of noises in the attic is wildlife. Animals such as bats, squirrels, raccoons, mice, and even birds can find their way into attics seeking shelter or food. Squirrels are particularly active during dawn and dusk. They make scratching sounds as they climb walls or scamper across floors.
Color: They are brown with black mixed in, or sometimes gray to black on top with white and a gray or black underside. Characteristics: Roof rats have soft and smooth fur, a pointed muzzle with large eyes and large, almost naked ears that can be pulled over the eyes.
To start, it's all about disrupting the animals' comfort. That means taking away their quiet, cozy places. To do that, you can play loud music near the ceiling of your home to scare the animals out. Or, you can place a bright light in the attic as long as going up in the attic won't pose an immediate danger to you.
Rats do not just leave on their own accord, unless they no longer have access to food and water. As long as you're living in the home, they will too. This is especially true for rats in attic spaces, as they may go undisturbed for years since it's not a high traffic area.
The Average Cost
You have to remember that the cost to remove mice from an attic will vary greatly. That being said, you should expect to pay at least $300 but no more than $500 for a basic service, including repairs and removing the mice.
Look at photos of Raccoon Feces, or Squirrel Feces, or Rat Feces, or Mouse Feces, or Bat Feces. You can also look at the animal tracks left in the dust in the attic. Check on almost any surface not covered by insulation, and there should be a layer of dust with animal tracks. Or you can check for muddy footprints.
If you have an unfinished attic, odds are those footsteps you hear come from some rowdy ducks, mice, a cat or even a wily raccoon. Maybe they are looking for food or – perhaps – to escape from becoming food. Or maybe they are looking for an easy route inside your home.
One-way doors and live traps are the most effective way to get squirrels out of an attic. Live raccoon traps are the best way to catch and remove a raccoon from the attic. If babies are present, raccoon eviction spray might work. If not, you can safely hand-remove the juveniles.
Trap mice in the attic using a snap trap or a live trap. Don't use cheese as bait because it goes rancid too quickly. Instead, use peanut butter, bacon or chocolate as bait. Set the triggers lightly so the traps will spring easily.
Animal control services can be provided by your local government and is usually free although it is often selective in what types of animals they will service.
If you're hearing an animal in your attic, it's mostly likely to be one of the common attic pests: squirrels, mice, rats, bats, raccoons, or opossums. Depending on where you live, snakes and lizards are also common, but they tend to be quieter house guests.