“What’s that scratching in my attic?” The noise in your attic or chimney at this time of year could be raccoons or squirrels. A raccoon will tear through a soffit or roof line to enter the attic space. Raccoons breed in February and March and give birth in April or May. Baby raccoons will make a chattering noise when they call for their mother.
Raccoons eat both meat and plants. One favorite dinner location for a raccoon is your garbage can. Sometimes a raccoon or skunk will dig up a yard looking for grubs. The damage to the yard will look like tufts of grass pulled up.
Squirrels can jump from tree to house easily. Squirrels living in attics are a concern because they can gnaw on boards and electrical wires. Most often, the most serious problems come from nesting adult females. They often build their nests near openings, such as an unscreened vent or loose or rotten trim boards.
The first sign of a squirrel in the attic is usually the sound of scampering during the day, as they come and go on foraging trips. You may hear scratching in the attic or walls at night as well. Juvenile squirrels, and sometimes adults, may fall into wall cavities and be unable to climb out, making persistent scratching noises as they try to escape (and eventually dying if they can’t).
Just remember that if you hear scratching in your attic, you can always give us a call!