Halloween may be over, but the spooky noises in your attic may have persisted past the haunting season. While it may be true that older houses have loud settling noises that may be disruptive, it could also be true that an animal has made your attic its home.
During the colder seasons, many animals migrate indoors to take shelter from the inclement weather and your attic may be an ideal place for them to stay. Typically, attics are free from consistent human interaction which can allow animals to feel safe, protected, and go undetected for long periods of time.
Animals That Cause Noise in Attics
Many homeowners may hear scratching, running, or other alarming noises. Most often homeowners hear these noises at night when the rest of the house is quiet. This is likely due to an animal who has inhabited the attic. While the animal you are dealing with can vary due to your geographical location, the most common animals found in attics include:
- Squirrels
- Mice
- Raccoons
- Birds
- Bats
Each of these animals may seem harmless, especially the small ones, however, they can cause a great deal of damage to your home and may even begin affecting your health.
Damages That Animals in The Attic Can Leave
Animals in your attic may seem harmless, but they can actually be quite dangerous to yourself and other residents of the home. While a few harmless noises may seem more like an annoyance than a threat, they could indicate that damages are occurring. Some of the most common damages experienced by homeowners who have animals in their attics include:
- Chewed wires- This can be incredibly dangerous, especially if you are using electronics that rely on the chewed wires. It can cause a fire or an all-out electrical outage in your home.
- Chewed wood- Many animals like to chew on wood, this is often seen with rodents. They can end up chewing through your home’s wooden beams and create an overall structural issue
- Torn air ducts- Animals may do this to create their home in your attic. If this has happened to you, you will see poor air circulation throughout your home.
- Torn insulation- Animals such as squirrels can often tear insulation to create a nest for themselves. You will need to get insulation replaced if this is the case to keep your home temperature controlled.
- Animal droppings and urine- This can easily soak and overwhelm insulation causing damages to the materials as well as promoting mold growth in the soaked areas.
If this animal has lived in your attic for an extended period of time, the damages will likely be far worse than an animal who has had a short stay.
Contact Us
If you think you have an animal nesting in your attic, contact Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control. We specialize in the safe and humane capture and removal of animals that have made your home their home. In addition to their removal, we take care of any and all cleanup involved in your home and take preventative measures to ensure that the animals won’t return. You can call us at 443-417-3137 or apply directly on our website here for assistance with your unwelcome attic resident.