Santa may be on his way, but don’t be so quick to dismiss the strange noises you hear overhead as him landing his sleigh. When the temperatures drop and harsh winds set in, outdoor pests head indoors, and the attic is one of their favorite spots to settle in for the holidays. Warm and high above the ground, it offers the perfect escape from the frigid weather outside and the humans below.
To find out what critters could be going bump in the night in your toasty upstairs hideaway, get to know some of the worst winter offenders:
Squirrels in Attic
Squirrels are cuter than most rodents, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of causing the same level of destruction indoors. Like other members of the rodent family, squirrels are big troublemakers that spend the bulk of their days setting up comfortable nests inside and chewing bigger passages to the outdoors.
Raccoons in Attic
Natural expert climbers, raccoons sneak into attics through eave gaps, ripped screens and broken shingles. Almost as soon as they invade, they begin to leave behind a trail of destruction that stretches from piles of droppings to destroyed insulation. Raccoons will usually alert you to their arrival with heavy nighttime footsteps.
Rats in Attic
Moving through multiple hidden tunnels, rats can quickly damage the home’s structure and insulation. They’re mostly active at night and can be identified by a light scurrying noise in floors and walls.
Opossums in Attic
While their cumbersome size makes them less common than other pests on this list, opossums can squeeze inside through uncovered vents and other open gaps. Their unique propensity for denning with other adult groups in the winter puts them especially high on the destruction scale. Opossums are nocturnal and relatively quiet. Their movements typically sound like barely audible, slow footsteps.
Because animals can be aggressive when cornered in small spaces, don’t venture upstairs alone. To evict unwanted tenants safely and prevent future infestations, always call professional pest control.
