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Original poster

What could be in my attic?

86 replies

Thunderface · 21/11/2021 03:05

My dds (young teens) woke up an hour ago to loud noises in the attic above their room. I went in and listened. We've had mice in the past but this sounds much bigger. Please don't say it's a rat. (It's probably a rat).
They came to sleep in my room but we couldn't settle.
My DH is away with work for the first time since the pandemic started. Before that he was away regularly for weeks at a time and I was fine with it.
Now I'm feeling rattled. Dds and I have decamped to the living room. They are dozing but I'm on edge.

OP posts:
CatonMat · 21/11/2021 03:06

Bats?

Original poster
Thunderface · 21/11/2021 03:09

That's what dd1 suggested. This sounded like something walking.
We are in a rural, detached house. It feels very isolated right now.
I'm surprised at how on edge I am but I'm doing a good job of covering it up.

OP posts:
Eenymeanyminey · 21/11/2021 03:12

It's probably squirrels. Hefty little buggers.

CatonMat · 21/11/2021 03:12

Ooh, I can't think what might be walking around up there.Shock
Hopefully someone who lives rurally can give some suggestions.

hernameis · 21/11/2021 03:20

I bet it's squirrels, we had them in under our roof and they sounded really "heavy" jumping and sprinting around at about 3 in the morning.

MissCruellaDeVil · 21/11/2021 03:22

I would suggest squirrels, used to happen at my parents house when I was a child, common in rural houses!

dontletthemugglesgetyoudownn · 21/11/2021 03:28

Rats

OnceUponAMidnightBeery · 21/11/2021 03:33

Squirrels, rats, a mouse in hobnailed boots? Grin We had similar years ago, turned out to be squirrels (get it sorted, they can chew the wiring!) I always hoped it was a ghost

Original poster
Thunderface · 21/11/2021 03:37

I've never seen a squirrel around here. How would I go about evicting one? I have no idea.
I'm a bag of nerves now. I can't sleep at all.

OP posts:
OnceUponAMidnightBeery · 21/11/2021 03:46

Please try not to worry, if it’s squirrels (or even a rat) they are very unlikely to come near you, in my experience anyway. Google your local pest controller and they will come and deal with the problem. Mine also gave me advice on where they may be getting in, which was a great help in preventing other ‘lodgers’

Fromage · 21/11/2021 04:24

I've had squirrels in the loft. (that sounds like a euphemism!)

They sounded like large, heavy-footed rabbits, wearing jackboots. Unbelievably heavy of foot.

Or, y'know, it's a ghost.

evelynhugo · 21/11/2021 05:56

Why don't you just look?

AwkwardSquad · 21/11/2021 07:02

We had a very noisy critter in our loft, pest control person thought it was most likely a squirrel. I’d suggest getting pest control out ASAP as they are seriously noisy and destructive.

WhatAHexIGotInto · 21/11/2021 07:06

Michael Myers?

simbobs · 21/11/2021 07:32

We had a squirrel in our attic a few years ago, a female who decided to make a nest in which to rear her family. Initially I heard movement but when it turned to gnawing I called the pest controller. They will trap and kill them, as they are not allowed to be released, since they are considered vermin. Unless this is a one off you really need to act.

Joystir59 · 21/11/2021 07:38

Pigeons. Two of my neighbours had pigeons in their lofts which got in through space caused by slipped roof tiles.

MalbecandToast · 21/11/2021 07:42

I had jackdaws living in mine for a bit, you could hear them walking around all the time so could be birds OP.

FindingMeno · 21/11/2021 07:47

Go up and look for poo.
I find poo is the best way to identify critters shacking up with me.

GoodnightGrandma · 21/11/2021 07:48

Squirrel

GoodnightGrandma · 21/11/2021 07:49

Do you have any trees touching, or very close to your house ?
My DS had them in her loft and they were getting in via the trees.

fudgecat · 21/11/2021 07:51

It's Pennywise the clown

Justcannotbearsed · 21/11/2021 07:53

Squirrels. Friend had them, he had to get a humane trap from a charity and release them miles away or they come back.

Or a bird getting in through skylight.

You could ge5 local pest control out….

LondonTan · 21/11/2021 08:12

I'm sorry to say it but my guess is rats. We used to live very rurally and it was a yearly problem for us around this time of year, when it starts getting colder. I won't terrify you with any of my rat-based anecdotes (I have lots) but I swear they sounded like men moving a piano when they were in our loft. Fun times 😬.

teletone · 21/11/2021 08:15

Squirrel. I had one that started at this time of year. Only 1 running around. Sounded like it was tap dancing all night. Check any gable ends for signs. One cap was ever so slightly at an angle.

Scurried out at 5 am every day but back in at night. Could hear it chewing. Told best to get pest control as will chew through wires.

Set traps, took bait but never caught. In end sealed cap and left more bait and after 2 weeks noise went. Was a long sleepless 2 weeks.

MumofSpud · 21/11/2021 08:41

Yes it's definitely a lovely squirrel (making a cute house for her family) and not a rat!

What could be in my attic?