Many first calls begin the same way. Someone lies in bed, hears something overhead and spends a few nights wondering. This guide helps you sort the clues, so the dispatcher can ask better questions and the technician arrives with a plan.
Reading the sound.
| Sound. | Often suggests. | Notes. |
|---|---|---|
| Light, quick scratching. | Mice or a small animal. | Often along walls or joists. |
| Heavy steps or thumping. | A rat or a larger animal. | Common near dusk and in the early hours. |
| Rolling or dragging. | An animal moving food or nest material. | May repeat in the same path. |
| Gnawing near a vent or soffit. | Chewing on wood or plastic. | Look for fresh shavings outside. |
| Ticking or popping that fades after sunset. | Roofing or framing cooling. | Usually follows a hot day. |
A table cannot name the animal for certain, but it narrows the guess. The walk-through provides the answer.
Why attic heat matters.
Florida attics get very hot in summer. The heat may keep animals out at midday, but evenings and nights offer a livable range. Insulation and ducts offer soft material and shelter. Rodents also move through attics because they connect to walls, eaves and the outdoors.
Heat affects people too. Entering a hot attic can be dangerous. If you need to look, do it in the morning, bring water, use a flashlight and tell someone where you are. Better still, leave the climb to the technician.
Noises that are not rodents.
- Birds nesting in a soffit or vent, usually active at dawn and dusk.
- Lizards and geckos moving across the roof or screen.
- Roofing and framing expanding and contracting as temperature changes.
- Air handlers and ducts shifting when the system starts.
- Plumbing, especially when pipes warm or cool.
If the sound follows a clear daily rhythm tied to the sun, thermal movement is likely. If it moves, scratches or changes from night to night, an animal is more likely.
Keep a short log.
Write down the date, time, room and kind of sound. Note whether it came from above, from a wall or from the floor. After three nights, patterns show up. Phone the dispatcher with the log in hand.
Gnawing in the attic does not respect office hours, and neither does our line.
Reach us on (888) 686-4821Other clues to check.
- Pellets near the attic hatch or along a wall.
- Stained or flattened insulation visible from the hatch.
- A musty or ammonia-like smell in an upstairs room.
- Chewed vent screens or fascia outside.
- Fresh holes or rub marks near the roof edge.
Take photos from the outside as well. A hole near a soffit or vent is often where animals enter.
What happens next.
Staying safe until the visit.
Sweeping and vacuuming droppings are out, and nests should be left untouched. Pets and children should stay away from the hatch. If you choose to clean, follow the CDC steps in the box below.
Keeping a simple attic log.
If you can see the attic from the hatch without climbing in, take a photograph every few weeks from the same spot. Pellets, flattened insulation and trails through the fluff show up well in a series, and a technician will find the dated pictures useful.
Keep the hatch closed between checks, and seal any gap around it so air and animals do not move freely between the attic and the living space. A weatherstrip around the hatch is a modest and sensible fix.
Before you call, what to do and what to skip.
The CDC describes one basic method for cleaning up droppings, and this box summarizes it.
- One quick pass with a broom can leave particles floating in still air for a long time.
- After weeks of being shut, a garage, shed or attic holds stale air. Throw it open and stay out for half an hour.
- Disposable gloves are the best choice. Finish with a thorough soap-and-water wash.
- Disinfectant needs contact time, so use plenty and let it sit on the waste before wiping.
- Put soiled towels and any dead rodent in a plastic bag, moving them with gloves or a tool rather than bare fingers.
- Tell your doctor about rodent contact if illness follows within weeks. We deal with pests and nothing else.
Read the agency pages yourself.
These pages are the origin of the steps we recommend before you call.
- CDC page on preventing hantavirus: Close the entry points first, and only then deal with old droppings or nests.
- CDC guide to cleaning up after rodents: How many minutes the disinfectant must sit, what to wear while you work and where the sealed bag goes.