Critter Stop Logo
(214) 561-2744
Critter Stop Logo
(214) 561-2744
Critter Stop Logo
(214) 561-2744
Home » Blog » Find Out What Critter Is Making the Scratching Noise Inside Your Wall

Find Out What Critter Is Making the Scratching Noise Inside Your Wall

Find Out What Critter Is Making the Scratching Noise Inside Your Wall

Becoming a homeowner means welcoming house problems with open arms and solving them. After all, you would not want to waste time eradicating such delicate issues. Some houses can be so problematic that you will witness other problems arising if you don't take necessary actions quickly.

This will become a domino effect, and we don't want that. One of the common house problems many homeowners face is disturbing noises. You will hear these disturbing noises from time to time in your house.

Hearing scratching on the walls but no droppings?

For example, you may hear rattling noises in your air conditioning or heating system. However, those typically arise due to technical issues. But what if you hear scratching noises in walls but no droppings? or hearing loud acratchin in walls? Fear not; it won't be a ghost!

Based on our experience providing wildlife removal services, this scratching noise in the wall or chewing sound in the wall at night is due to a rodent or critter infestation. If this noise continues a few nights longer, you will have a problem. Then, you will have to contact a critter control company and have the house inspected to find out the culprit.

But which critter can create these noises? Let's find out in detail:

Causes of Scratching Noise in Wall

Scratching in walls can be caused by many wildlife creatures. You may hear squeaking, thumping, slithering, or chirping along with scratching sounds. When we have provided our wildlife removar services, we have found that animals scratch when they want to build nests, walkaround, or store food.

Unfortunately, linking this sound to a particular critter isn't easy. The volume of scratching won't determine the size of the animal. However, some critters are more likely to be the culprit than others regarding the scratching noise in wall.

The most common critters to make these scratching noises are:

1. Squirrels

Squirrels can easily get trapped inside the house. When there are squirrels in walls, you will hear noises as squirrels are active during the daytime. So, you may hear disturbing noises in your waking hours if the house is squirrel infested.

Moreover, squirrels tend to move randomly, resulting in inconsistent sounds. Furthermore, you may also find squirrel droppings in your house. These droppings will be lighter in color than mouse or rat droppings.

Squirrel scratching a wall inside an attic
Squirrel scratching a wall inside an attic.

2. Mice

Another common culprit that produces scratching noise in wall is mice. In fact, they are a common reason why noise ensues from the ceilings. Other than scratching noises, you will hear their skittering – light footsteps as they run around the house.

Another big giveaway is that you may hear chewing or gnawing sounds that indicate that your house is mouse infested. Typically, mice are more active at night. However, if they are looking for food, they will move about in daytime as well.

You will hear the mice in walls sound at day or nighttime. But it is most common when the house is quiet, and the mice feel safe and away from danger.

3. Rats

Like mice, rats can also be the reason behind the scratching noise in wall occur. They also chew on food packages and other items. So, when you see bite marks on packaging, be prepared for the possibility of rat infestation.

If you wonder "Why do I hear scratching noices in my walls at night?" its due to rats being more active at night. Moreover, rats tend to leave urine tracks no matter where they go. This urine smell can be intense. So, if you experience foul odors along with scratching noises, chances are you have a rat problem.

4. Raccoons

Although raccoons are large enough to sneak their way into your house, they can still slip through. The baby or small raccoons can easily make their way inside through gaps and get trapped in your attic or other places of your house.

Since raccoons are pretty larger than rats, mice, and squirrels, you will be hearing lots of noises and other sounds showing an animal in distress. With that said, it will be easier for you to find out which critter has infested your house.

Raccoon scratching a wall
Raccoon scratching a wall

5. Bats

Another reason for scratching noise in wall is bats. Like other rodents, bats can carry numerous diseases. However, the scariest prospect is that they can fly. Just like other animals, bats can make scratching noises in your attic or other places of the house.

However, remember that bats are relatively quiet. In fact, homeowners wouldn't even know that bats have infested their houses for years. But most likely, homeowners find out about their presence when they start falling behind the walls.

Juvenile bats tend to fall more often into the wall crevices when they initially learn how to move around. These nocturnal creatures usually make scratching noises at night. When they fall behind the wall, they become disoriented. And if they can’t fly, they will try to climb to get out while scratching on the walls.

What to Do When You Hear Scratching Noise in Wall?

If you have heard scratching noises in the walls during the day but haven’t yet seen any critters, the best thing to do is call a Critter Removal company. The professionals will come out and inspect your house. Remember that although these critters may look harmless, like mice, they can host multiple diseases.

Even the sweet-looking raccoons can become aggressive. And although bats don’t bite unless provoked, the last thing you want to face is an injury. It is best not to trap these creatures yourself to keep yourself safe. Let the professionals do the work.

Critter Stop has the right equipment to deal with all kinds of critters. We will define the type of infestation in your house and how to address it. If there is a rodent infestation like mice or rats, we will likely use glue traps or other traps.

Our expert team will also determine all the entry points and seal them so that the critters won’t go back inside. If there is raccoon infestation, you will need animal control, where the professionals will come and work to remove them from your house. We will also give you tips on how to keep these critters away.

How to Keep These Unwanted Visitors Away?

After determining the animal or critter problem, you don’t want it to repeat. To put a full stop to future infestations, do the following:

  • Inspect your house for any holes or gaps that could welcome these pests. The critter control company will help identify these entry points for you to seal them.
  • Keep the gutters free of debris. Also, stop leaving scraps of food around the house.
  • Don't leave pet food out during the night.
  • Secure the garbage cans and bags, especially when there’s food inside them.
  • Use a mesh screen to cover the chimney. It will help you avoid any future squirrel infestations.
Secure the garbage cans
Securing your trashcan is a good way to lock potential food sources to wildlife animals.

What to do when mice are chewing in your walls?

When mice are chewing in your walls, it's important to address the issue promptly to prevent further damage and potential health risks. Here are some steps you can take:

  1. Identify the Entry Points: Inspect your home to find any gaps, holes, or cracks where mice could be entering. Seal these entry points using materials like steel wool, caulk, or metal flashing to prevent further access.
  2. Remove Food Sources: Make sure all food is stored securely in airtight containers, and clean up any crumbs or spills promptly. This removes potential attractants for mice and encourages them to seek food elsewhere.
  3. Set Traps: Place mousetraps strategically along walls, near entry points, or where you've heard scratching noises. Use different types of traps such as snap traps, electronic traps, or live traps depending on your preference and the severity of the infestation.
  4. Use Repellents: Consider using natural or commercial repellents such as peppermint oil, mothballs, or ultrasonic devices to deter mice from entering your walls.
  5. Clean Up: Remove any nesting materials or debris left behind by mice. Thoroughly clean affected areas with disinfectant to remove urine, droppings, and odors, as these can attract more mice.
  6. Monitor and Maintain: Continuously monitor for signs of mouse activity and regularly inspect your home for new entry points or evidence of chewing. Maintain cleanliness and repair any structural damage promptly to prevent future infestations.
  7. Seek Professional Help: If the infestation persists or if you're dealing with a large number of mice, consider contacting a pest control professional who can assess the situation and provide effective treatment options.

By taking these proactive measures, you can effectively address mice chewing in your walls and prevent further damage to your home.

Conclusion

Scratching in walls is common. For this purpose, you must have the right critter removal company. Keep your house safe from all kinds of critters. Remember, don’t wait for long to have these pesky animals removed. The more time you take, the more costly the removal will become.

The best in town is Critter Stop. The company specializes in removing all kinds of critters. From squirrels, mice, to raccoons, you name it, and the company will eliminate them for you. Call us now at (214) 234-2616 to schedule a free inspection and get rid of these noising critters!

FAQ

Do rats chew through walls?

Yes, rats can and often do chew through walls. Their strong, sharp teeth allow them to gnaw through a variety of materials, including wood, drywall, and even soft metals like aluminum or lead. This behavior is not just destructive but also a way for rats to maintain the length of their teeth, which continuously grow throughout their lives. They also chew to create pathways for navigation, access to food sources, and nesting sites within buildings

What to do if there's a critter in your wall?

If you think there's a critter living in your wall, the first step is to try to figure out what kind of animal it is, based on the sounds it makes, any droppings it leaves behind, or other signs. Once you've identified the animal, search for how it might have gotten in by looking for any holes, gaps, or cracks in the walls, floors, foundation, and around doors or windows. Seal these openings with materials like steel wool, wire mesh, caulk, hardware cloth, metal sheeting, or wood to prevent further entry.

Depending on the critter, you might need to set up traps near these entry points or in areas where there's a lot of activity, using appropriate bait and considering live traps for humane removal. It's also important to remove anything that might be attracting the animal, such as easily accessible food and water, by keeping your home clean and storing food in sealed containers, as well as fixing any leaky pipes.

Critter problem? We can put a stop to that!

Safe Wildlife Removal
Mosquito Control
Insulation Services
Dead Animal Removal

Southlake

FortworthDallas

 

NWCOA LogoBBB A+ ratingNextdoor Fave

Google LogoFacebook LogoThumbtack LogoPorch Pro Logo

Lee Gorman
Lee Gorman
13:50 21 Nov 22
I’d give a 10 star review if I could! We had a great experience with Critter Stop. Everyone I dealt was friendly, professional, and reassuring. Phillip was very helpful and knowledgeable about the work he was doing. He walked me around the entire house to make sure I saw and understood the services he provided. He was also really nice and answered all my questions — he is exactly the type of person that should be interacting with customers.I love the fact that they will come back for up to 1 year after installation if any problems occur — this shows me they stand behind their work.The owner was great too, he personally came to my house and walked me through their offering. I recommend critter stop to anyone and everyone!
Susan Casey
Susan Casey
14:53 15 Nov 22
Critter Stop is a fantastic business! Everyone involved is extremely professional and very easy to communicate with. Chisam, the owner, did a great job of explaining the process to get the squirrels out of my attic during the initial free estimate. The exclusion crew who did all of the initial work was fabulous. The crew consisted of Phillip, Nick and Corey who arrived promptly when they said they would. They are happy, positive employees. Everyone is very polite and patient in explaining their work and answering questions. They came back several times to check the traps and finish it off with the fogging. Lester was very good about following up to schedule each trap check with me, and the office staff who took care of the billing was very efficient. Critter Stop is a well run company with honest, trustworthy employees! Thank you to all of you who worked hard to make my attic critter free and for the peace of mind that you guarantee your work. Great to know I can call them if for some reason a squirrel figures out a way to get back in!
Karen Eckholdt
Karen Eckholdt
14:54 22 Sep 22
Critter Stop has made this project easy and extremely professional from start to finish! They are very detailed and competent from start to finish and know so much about their business. They made a problem easy for us and at a reasonable cost. We would be happy to recommend this company and their owners and staff to anyone.
Aaron Echols
Aaron Echols
13:51 03 Aug 22
The guys at Critter Stop responded quickly, were very friendly, and gave us an honest estimate of what we might need. They explained why some items on other quotes were or were not necessary. They communicated well to get us scheduled, and did the work well and quickly. Great service at a fair and competitive price.
Jacob Scribner
Jacob Scribner
19:23 27 Jul 22
Brandon and his other coworker Gavin came to install insulation in my attic. I am very grateful for the hard work and professionalism. My house feels a lot better with the insulation installed. 5 star review. Cory Leach was also very nice and helpful. He came to my house to do another job and was very attentive and professional. Thank you Corey and thank you Critter Stop for helping me.The owner very polite and helpful, I’m glad I found this company to help me.
See All Reviews
js_loader

This will close in 0 seconds

crossmenu