Rats or Squirrels in Your Attic?

This can be a tricky question to answer online, but here’s a quick guide. If you’re hearing scratching sounds, it’s usually a squirrel or a rat/mouse.

• Scratching during the day? Most likely a squirrel.
• Scratching only at night? Typically rats or mice.

If the noise sounds more like heavy thumping, constant creaking, or movement that feels “bigger than a rodent” — especially when there’s no wind — you may be dealing with a larger critter such as a raccoon or opossum.

Not sure what you’re hearing? Want an expert to check it out for free? Give us a call and we’ll take a look.

Rats are one of the most studied critters out there, and scientists have learned a lot about how they move. Rats don’t stay in one spot, which is why you may only hear noises a couple of times a week before it disappears and then comes back again. They typically travel within a quarter‑mile radius, moving from place to place in search of what they need.

They’re looking for shelter from weather, protection from predators, and — most importantly — consistent food and water sources. Areas like greenbelts, open fields, ponds, restaurants, and similar environments provide everything they need, which is why they’re so common around neighborhoods. Give us a call to find out the best way to keep them away!

When we inspect an attic for rats, there are several key signs we look for. The most obvious is rat droppings, typically about the size of a Tic Tac. We also check for shiny, oily rub marks (a sign of urine and frequent travel paths), chewed insulation, damaged pipes or HVAC ducts, paw prints on ductwork, and tunneling through insulation.

Want fair, honest pricing to clean, sanitize, and secure your home from rodents? Give us a call for your free estimate.

Rats can be dangerous. They can transmit diseases and often bring additional pest problems into your home, including flies, maggots, fleas, and ticks. One reason you hear scratching or chewing noises is because rats constantly gnaw on wood and other materials — their teeth never stop growing, so they file them down on whatever they can find.

This becomes a serious risk when they start chewing on electrical wiring or water lines, which can lead to fires, leaks, and repairs that cost tens of thousands of dollars.

If you’re hearing chewing or scratching noises in your attic, don’t wait. Acting quickly is the safest move — and we can have a professional out often the same day to inspect your home.

Great question — and honestly, it’s the right question to be asking. Once an attic is properly sealed, you shouldn’t get any more rodent activity up there. But there are a couple of important things homeowners don’t always realize:

1. You might trap a rodent inside.

If a rat or squirrel is still in the attic when you seal it, it can cause serious damage trying to escape — and if it dies inside the walls, you could be dealing with a nasty odor for weeks or even months.

2. Most homes have more entry points than you think.

Many houses have 2–3 obvious access points, but they also usually have 2–3 hidden or tricky ones that only a trained eye will catch. If even one small gap is missed, rodents will find it and you’ll be right back where you started.

3. The seal must be strong enough to withstand chewing and pushing.

Rats can chew through weak materials, and squirrels can push through poorly secured screens or foam. A proper seal uses rodent‑proof materials and professional installation to ensure they can’t get back in.

At Green & Safe Pest Control, we know exactly where rodents enter, how they move, and what it takes to 100% rodent‑proof your home. We secure every access point — even the hidden ones — and guarantee a complete seal.

Call us today for your free home estimate.

When you hear scratching noises at night, it almost always means you have a rodent in your attic. That sound comes from their claws moving through the insulation and from them chewing on anything they can reach to file down their teeth. A rat’s teeth never stop growing, even in adulthood, so they constantly gnaw to keep them trimmed — and unfortunately, your attic becomes their chew toy.

If you’re hearing these noises, it’s important to act quickly. We offer free inspections and provide a fast, fair solution to get your home rodent‑free again.

Give us a call today.