Noise upstairs

[FredaFox]

So lying in bed, cosy, raining outside all lovely then I hear a noise upstairs (in the loft)
Listen for the rain thinking is it getting heavier, then hear it again. Initially I think scurrying secondly I think maybe ripping (loft insulation up there for a start)
Now this afternoon around 430/5 I was wfh in my bedroom and thought I heard something above me so went up the loft, lights on, bit of a look but admittedly I didn’t go all the way as was a bit timid in case something jumped however I could see the back wall and no droppings or signs of disturbance
So I tentatively popped my head up the loft just now, lights on but didn’t get off the steps as my heart was racing. Again saw nothing but think I heard very slight movement
My mum whose house it is heard nothing but she’s a bit deaf and I’m very noise aware
The house opposite had squirrels in their roof a few years ago, I know they are very messy and destructive. It’s a semi rural location and do sometimes see squirrels about. My mum always makes me shoo them away if they come in our garden after what happened to the house opposite. One side neighbours feed the birds a lot and their garage with feeders etc is close to our roof.
So will speak to her other neighbour the other side tomorrow for advice (also my dads pal) and will speak to pest control but my mind is now racing and I’m wide awake. I get insomnia and sleep lightly as it is so hot my headphones in with white noise
Had to tell somebody so sorry for the long post but I was trying to be strong for my mum. God I miss my dad

Oh my god, I’ve made a ridiculously long post, so sorry. Just needed to get it off my chest

Does not sound like anything sinister. A rat, mice or squirrels. Get a person in to check it out.

No I agree, I think squirrel or rat. All fixable when I think logically!
I’ve had mice in my own property and this sounded heavier
Think I’ve just worked myself up going in the loft at night and then listening for every noise. I was the same when I had a mouse in my flat. Can’t switch off

We had birds nesting under the eaves, scared the hell out of me with all the scratching and rustling until I knew what it was

Like you, I kept thinking it was in the loft and going up but couldn’t see anything. Found out when two of the babies came in through the window when learning to fly and had to gently persuade them back home. God sparrows can shit a lot for such tiny birds!

Bats.

Obviously if it is bats, they’re protected so that’s basically where they live now. Sometimes the bat association likes to come and have a look.

I loved my bats.

That’s interesting what type of noise to bats make? Can live with bats. Have seen them locally

I do think I heard more of a scurry noise.
As you can tell I’ve not had the best nights sleep. My earphones are hurting my ears now but the white noise has helped me get to sleep

If it's rats or mice in the loft you'll hear a noise like stones being dropped on the floor.

I've had bats in my wall they made like a scratching sound!

I’ve had my mice in my flat, well 1 actually and the noise is different
My gut is saying rat or squirrel
I just feel like it’s something heavier
There were no droppings or smell when I went up so hopefully it’s only just moved in
Gaahhh I’m gonna suffer at work today. Not slept well at all

Can’t imagine bats!!

We get squirrels in our attic. They are so noisy!! They only tend to come in when the weather is bad and then off they go as soon as its cleared. We don't see any sign of them up there usually but have traps set to catch them currently as they've been returning for several months now.

Interesting @Mamabear2020 so they do leave?
I’m not sure I can cope with the noise
I’ve had white noise on all night so I don’t hear it but I’ve not slept well
When I had a mouse in my flat I didn’t sleep well for months and even now when I unlock my door I hold back and wait a second in case I see something scurry. It sets my anxiety off
I’m not scared as such but I am jumpy

Yes, bats are very scratchy, but ‘mine’ used to make a little ‘thunk ‘ kind of noise when they came back in or bumped into the thatch. They were sweet. The bat people were more annoying as they wanted to keep coming and doing surveys on them.

I felt like that too OP when we had a mouse- he was an absolute terrorist- didn’t care about us being there at all. I was on edge for ages imagining him having a jolly old time scurrying about amongst my belongings. Ugh. He climbed our curtains once while we were watching TV. No food up there so he obviously just wanted to be a twat.

Oh no @SmidgenofaPigeon up your curtains?!
I was always worried he might climb on my bed when I slept!
I was in the shower once and he wandered in

Well just been out to the bins and heard a thud, bloody squirrel jumped from my garden up on the fence. He scarpered towards a green once I made a noise.
So I think my noisy culprit is probably him

Our loft space is practically a wildlife reserve, we've had rats (thanks to uncapped drains and broken drainpipes along the terrace), squirrels (overgrown trees that allow them to hop easily onto and then chew into the fascias), sparrows (surprisingly loud), starlings (sound like sparrows in hobnailed boots), and bees. Little buggers.

It might be that whatever it is was charging about on the roof rather than in it.

Have had a squirrel nest in my loft, above my bed, little scratching noises which stopped when I moved at all. When they had gone out one day I had someone block the entry point and off they went.

The sounds of magpies and squirrels on the roof is loud, as is the sound of rats gnawing at the house from the inside.

Aside from the noise was there any smell?

Thank you this is so reassuring to read
No @SlopesOff no smell at all. When I ventured into the lift yesterday, there was no sign of droppings or damage though admittedly I didn’t go right to the back wall as was a bit scared but I went 3/4 so could see it
I was only in the loft recently putting the Christmas bits away and didn’t see anything
If it is squirrel from what I’ve read and you’ve just said they chew the fascia so I’ll investigate that at lunch (I’m working today) hopefully with the nice neighbour!
The house is a detached bungalow. The lady on the street before a cup de sac do the right hand neighbour has a lot of feeding things behind his garage in the back garden which I think is close enough to our house for something to jump

Oh and I’ve spoken to the council, all logged just awaiting a call from pest control to come out