Animals In The Attic

Which Animal is in My Attic—and How Dangerous is It?

Identifying which critter is making its home in your house is sometimes difficult when all you hear is movement in the attic or walls. If you're hearing heavy footsteps, stomping, thumping, pawing, digging, chewing—or any similar sounds—in your walls or attic, give us a call and learn more below about which critters could be your culprit. No matter what animal is causing the problem, when you're concerned about getting rid of critters in the attic, we are here to help!

Bats In The Attic

Bats in the attic will cause many problems for homeowners. Roosting bats will create a terrible mess of droppings that will lead to:

• Difficult Stains & Odors

  • Like all wildlife, bats are not known for their hygiene, and the odor is only amplified if the animal has died in your wall or somewhere else in your attic. Our high-quality, professional deodorizers will help restore your home's original smell as if the animal was never there. We can also repair any stains that are caused by wildlife in your attic. If the bats are hanging over your drywall ceiling, their droppings will lead to staining on your attic floor.

• Health Hazards

  • If inhaled, bat guano may cause histoplasmosis. This disease may lead to serious complications if left untreated. Other diseases transmitted through bat urine or guano include salmonellosis.
  • Bats can directly transmit diseases such as rabies and external parasites from bats like fleas, ticks, and bat bugs can also transmit diseases to you. Keep your family safe and get bats out today.

• Bat Noises in the Attic

  • Bat noises sound similar to mice scratching in your attic. Because bats are nocturnal, you'll generally hear them scratching around late through the night into the early morning. You may also hear chirping or crying sounds in the attic, or you could hear their wings fluttering. 

• Ruined Insulation

  • When bats hang over your insulation, their droppings seep in and soil it. If the insulation is soaked in urine and feces, it will not perform. Bats' droppings and secondary pests they're known for carrying will all lead to unusable insulation, which can impact your home's energy efficiency.

Critter Control of San Antonio Can Remove Bats from Your Attic

Critter Control of San Antonio will get bats out of the attic and clean up the mess left behind. If your insulation has significant damage, we are experienced in attic insulation restoration as well! Get rid of bats, clean up bat droppings and keep bats out for good. Call Critter Control of San Antonio today.

Mice And Rats In The Attic

Hearing movement in the walls? You may be wondering, "what do I do about rodents in my attic?". Mice and rats are destructive and dirty animals. The droppings will accumulate quickly and cause difficult odors and stains. If you suspect a mouse or rat problem in your attic, call now! A few mice or rats can turn into an infestation quickly.

• Ripped & Soiled Insulation

  • Wildlife commonly uses insulation for nesting, and rodents are no exception. Rodents typically will use insulation for nesting in one of two ways: they'll rip and drag insulation as needed to create a nest in a secondary location or they will nest inside the existing insulation. If you find a mouse or rat nest in the attic, it's likely made from insulation. 
  • When rodents get into your insulation, they run through it leaving their urine and droppings along the way.

• Electrical Hazard

  • Mice and rats will chew on electrical wires for several reasons. The most common reason is to keep their teeth sharp. Rodent teeth are constantly growing, and chewing on the hard outer material of the electrical wires helps to keep them short. Did you know rodents can also be responsible for chewed waterlines?
  • Critter Control of San Antonio will get mice and rats out of your home and clean up the mess left behind. Our team has the experience to replace insulation if the damage is significant enough to affect the energy efficiency of your home. Call Critter Control of San Antonio today for more information.

• What do rat droppings look like?

  • Mice and rats are unhygienic. Mouse droppings are usually less than 1/4" long and found wherever mice are present in your attic; that is to say all around! Many homeowners often spot the droppings before they see the actual mouse, if at all. Rat droppings, too, are plentiful around where the rats have resided. Rat droppings are slightly longer than those of mice.
  • Both of these droppings have the potential to transmit diseases through their feces, often passing along salmonellosis, tularemia, and leptospirosis to humans.

• Mouse Noises in the Attic

  • You'll likely know you have mice or rats in your attic if you hear scratching or scurrying noises. The time of the day in which you hear the sounds can help you rule out squirrels—squirrels are most active during the day. Mice and rats are most active during the nighttime hours. 

Squirrels In The Attic

If a squirrel or multiple squirrels have found their way into your attic, the damages may be extensive! Squirrels are crafty and resourceful animals that are capable of significant damage to insulation, wiring, and structural materials in your attic. If a squirrel in the attic decided to build a nest, they will find their way back in if removed by untrained homeowners. We recommend using a professional squirrel removal company like Critter Control to keep squirrels in the attic out permanently.

• Chewing on Wires

  • Because squirrels are a member of the rodent family, they also have constantly growing teeth. For this reason, one of their primary damages to your attic will be compromised wires—which can present a safety hazard.

• Squirrel Droppings

  • Often confused for rat droppings, squirrel droppings can be extremely harmful and will require full sanitation. Handling squirrel feces can lead to contracting diseases such as leptospirosis, typhus, and tularemia. 

• Nesting Female Squirrels

  • Another major problem associated with squirrels in the attic is the mothers who have recently had a litter of squirrel kits. Not only is your attic itself used for nesting (ripped insulation, etc.) but now there are babies to consider, which makes removal all the more difficult. Do not try to lock squirrels out of your attic if you suspect there are babies inside. They will create a lot of damage to your San Antonio home trying to get back inside to their young. 

• Squirrel Noises in the Attic

  • Common squirrel noises to hear in your attic include scratching and scurrying. If you hear the noises during the daytime, you likely have a squirrel living in your attic. Squirrels are active during daylight hours, while mice and rats are active at night. Squirrel noises sound similar to rodent noises, so the time of day you hear the activity will help you pinpoint which type of animal you're dealing with. 

• Attic Entry Points

  • The fact that the squirrels got in somehow is another aspect of squirrel removal and prevention to consider. They likely caused significant damage getting inside with their notorious ripping and chewing habits, and they can easily chew through plastic. Did you know squirrels can even chew through lightweight aluminum vent covers? Squirrels in the attic cause a lot of damage if left unattended. 

Critter Control of San Antonio will get squirrels out of your attic, clean up any mess left behind and keep squirrels out for good. Trust the professionals at Critter Control of San Antonio and give us a call today!

Raccoons In The Attic

• Raccoon Droppings

  • A major issue with raccoons is their accumulation of droppings. Some common hazards associated with raccoon feces can include raccoon roundworm through direct ingestion (or by breathing in the eggs). Raccoon roundworm can be dangerous to the human nervous system, so it's vital not to handle raccoon feces in your attic without gloves—or a trained professional.

• Damage to Attic & Roof

  • Raccoons are also capable of significant damage to roofing materials, air ducts, and more. If you suspect a raccoon in the attic, call today! Their droppings will ruin insulation and cause terrible odors in your home. Raccoons are strong animals that will do whatever they need to get where they want to be. This could include damaged shingles and other roofing materials, torn air ducts, and demolished vents.

• Raccoon Noises in the Attic

  • These large creatures are notorious for causing a ruckus in your attic. Raccoons are on the larger end of the range of wildlife critters, so their movement alone may be enough to alert you. Raccoon vocalizations include chittering, growling, hissing, and snarling—they have been known to make over 200 sounds.
  • Raccoons are predominantly nocturnal so pay attention to when you're hearing the noises. If you hear thumping or other heavy noises in your attic, call Critter Control of San Antonio. We will get the raccoons out for good and keep them out.

How Do Animals Get Into The Attic?

If you hear scratching, scurrying, or notice any other wildlife signs in your home, you may be wondering, "how do animals get into the attic?". Animals get into the attic when your home isn't properly sealed from wildlife. Gaps in your attic vent, holes in your siding, or a chimney without the proper cap can all allow for widlife to make their way into the attic. 

To keep wildlife from getting into the attic, Critter Control of San Antonio can help you with wildlife prevention methods. Common wildlife prevention methods to prevent animals from getting into the attic include sealing gaps, screening vents, installing chimney caps, and adding roof vent guards. 

No matter what animal you suspect is in your attic, Critter Control of San Antonio can remove it and prevent the wildlife from coming back. Contact us today for all the information you need about getting rid of critters in the attic.