Rats And Squirrels In Attic

Attic pests like mice rats bats and squirrels are a homeowner s nightmare.

Rats and squirrels in attic.

Squirrels are surprisingly messy with nests made up of a variety of loosely built materials including insulation wood paper leaves and bark. Squirrels and rats are diurnal and nocturnal in nature due to their anatomical characteristics. Rats are masters at squeezing through small spaces while squirrels generally need larger openings to maneuver. Here s how to remove the freeloaders.

You ll have to search deep down in insulation or in walls where you suspect there are high levels of rat activity. Also if you do manage to kill one with poison the smell of a rotting squirrel is terrible. They like to keep them well hidden. While mice rats and other common rodents are active at night squirrels and up and about during the day as well.

The best way to get rid of rats and mice is to use the classic wooden snap traps or bait traps. The strong smell of the ammonia will irritate the squirrels and make them view the attic as a bad place to nest. Rats and squirrels are very different creatures and the differences don t end with the bushiness or lack of bushiness on a tail or whether their face is cheeky or pointy. And rat poison is not designed for squirrels so if they did eat it they may not die.

Squirrels never eat food in an attic so unlike with rats they will not consume rat poison. This may get them to leave on their own. Squirrels are rarely active during the night so if you hear a lot of movement during this time then you are most likely dealing with a rat. Attic pest removal can seem like groundhog day the movie not the holiday.

Being able to tell one from the other can make it easier to get them out of your hair. Because they need water daily they tend to nest where water is readily accessible. Rats and squirrels have different habits preferences and lifestyles. They will create noise seemingly 24 7.

But you can t let them set up house in your attic. The average size of a squirrel s burrow opening for instance is 4 inches wide while rats can slither through openings as small as inch in diameter. Roof rats aka black rats often build nests in attics. Soak a rag in ammonia and place it near the squirrels nesting spot.

If you have been hearing noises in your attic lately and can t figure out whether it s a squirrel or a rat then the time of activity should help you guess. These sounds may be from running scratching chewing and even fighting if you have multiple families vying for the same territory. Squirrels or rats in walls both make nests but no two nests are the same.