To ask what animal could be on my roof?

[Yellownotblue]

I hear footsteps on my flat roof (London semi) in daytime. They seem four legged. Too heavy for mice, squirrels and probably rats. I’d say it sounds more like I would expect a cat or fox to make.

Cat I don’t mind (as long as it doesn’t get hurt).

Foxes I’m really not keen. But can foxes climb? There’s no scaffolding nearby that I can think of. And are they active in daytime? I only hear them at night usually.

Any other ideas of what wildlife is on my route? There’s no visual clue.

I think it would be a giraffe myself. Oh, no visual clue, I think you might possibly see it. A ghost giraffe?

But probably a cat....

Magpies, I swear the ones round here wear hobnail boots and dance a jig.

It could be squirrels. When I was growing up, they got into our attic and the noise was horrific!

Dunno, but very probably a cat

Yes, foxes can climb and are often active in the daytime must mostly only in quiet/secluded areas.

Last week a fox was curled up, enjoying the sunshine on my neighbour's shed roof but that was at 6am.

I would have said foxes can't climb but can jump. Cars tend to walk very quietly. Magpies are pretty stampy as are ducks (memories of boating days) 😆 sound is not a reliable measure of number of legs in my experience.

I'm in London too and foxes can be active during the day round here. I regularly see foxes on my flat garage roof. I've never seen one climb, but they can jump from low levels to higher levels. (They're not that careful though ,which is why you often see urban foxes limping!)

It could well be a fox, I've seen loads round here sunning themselves on garages.

Squirrels can make an amazing racket. Very surprising if you haven't heard them before.

A giraffe would be cool. I’m fine with magpies too. I know foxes can jump on shed roof, but I’m talking 2nd floor/ dormer conversion roof here. Maybe a very fat cat?

A cat at a guess.

A fox wouldn't be able to get up there as UK foxes can't climb (but European ones can - fox fact).

While I'm on a roll with animal facts - badgers are surprisingly good climbers and can climb over a 6 foot fence. 🦡

Its not a badger though

My first thought was magpies. They're surprisingly noisy!

We get magpies on the roof and it sounds like they are clog dancing sometimes

Seagulls? We have some like Morris dancers round here.

Squirrels? However birds make a lot of noise

We have pigeons and they dance on our roof with regularity. You wouldn't believe it was pigeons unless you actually saw them as they're so loud and sound like footsteps

I'm in London and have similar. It's magpies. Sometimes pigeons or jackdaws (and once a beautiful jay), but usually magpies.

It's very loud and they do have a weird 'step-step-step-step" noise.

I would say magpies too. They stage magpie strictly come dancing on my flat roof. I think they do it to take the piss out of the cat who can't get up there.

Pigeons. We have them on our flat roof and they are so noisy.

Pidgeons. I'm working in our loft room and they sound like they are playing football

Pigeons sound like they have clogs on, especially if there are more than one.

Rats?

You never know if there is rubbish about.

Or Seagulls/pigeons?

I’ve heard rats in an attic that sounded like there was a load of children running around don’t know if anyone’s said it yet but I think rats 🐀

Magpies or pigeons I'd guess. When they are on our flat roof it sounds like a person is walking about on there.

We have squirrels and they’re louder than when the cats get up there! Can you not go out and take a look?