Squirrels in the Attic? Signs, Noises, and How to Get Them Out

By the YardClues editorial team · Updated

Scurrying, scratching, or rolling sounds in the attic at dawn and again in late afternoon most likely mean gray squirrels, which chew in at roof edges, soffits, and vents. Noise at night points instead to flying squirrels, raccoons, mice, or rats. The humane fix that works is sealing every secondary gap, putting a one-way exclusion door on the main entry, and sealing it permanently once the animals are gone — timed so no babies are left inside.

Most likely causes

  • Gray squirrels — noise at dawn and late afternoon, chewed 2–3 inch hole at the roofline
  • Flying squirrels — scurrying at night, often several animals, droppings piled in one spot
  • Raccoons — heavy thumping at night, torn-open vents, soffits, or shingles
  • Mice or rats — light scratching at night, small droppings, dime- or quarter-size gaps
  • Bats — little noise, but a stream of bats leaving a small gap at sunset and guano below

Not quite what you're seeing? Answer four quick questions and the clue finder will point you to a closer match.

Compare the possible causes

Possible cause Key signs When it happens How likely
Gray squirrels Scurrying, scratching, and rolling sounds at dawn and late afternoon; a chewed entry hole about 2–3 inches across with gnawed edges; leafy nests and shredded insulation Fall and winter for shelter; litters in late winter (about February–March) and again in late summer (July–August) Very common
Flying squirrels Scampering and gliding thumps after dark, often what sounds like several animals; small droppings piled in one area of insulation Most noticeable in fall and winter, when they nest communally Common
Raccoons Heavy walking and thumping at night; large torn openings in roof vents, soffits, or shingles; chittering or crying babies in spring; a latrine pile of droppings Year-round, with mothers and young most common in spring Common
Mice and rats Light, quick scratching at night, often moving into walls; small dark pellet droppings along beams and insulation; gnawed wires or boxes Fall and winter as they move indoors for warmth Common
Bats Little noise inside, but bats streaming out of a small gap along the roofline at sunset; piles of crumbly droppings (guano) below the roost; staining around the gap Spring through fall, with summer maternity colonies Less common
Birds Chirping, fluttering, and scratching during the day; nesting material poking out of a vent or soffit gap Spring and early summer nesting season Less common

Visual clues to check

  • Note when you hear it: dawn and late afternoon point to gray squirrels; after dark points to flying squirrels, raccoons, mice, or rats
  • Judge the weight: light scratching suggests mice; scurrying and rolling suggests squirrels; heavy thumping suggests a raccoon
  • Scan the roofline from outside with binoculars at dawn or dusk, checking roof edges, soffit corners, fascia boards, gable and roof vents, and the chimney
  • Measure any entry hole: about 2–3 inches with gnawed edges suggests squirrels; a large torn opening suggests a raccoon; dime- or quarter-size gaps suggest mice or rats
  • Watch for tree branches touching or overhanging the roof — the squirrel highway into most attics
  • Check attic droppings: rice-size for mice, larger pellets for rats or squirrels, one concentrated pile for flying squirrels or a raccoon latrine
  • Look for leafy nests, tunnels through insulation, and gnawed wire insulation or wood
  • Stand outside at sunset and watch for bats leaving a small gap along the roofline

The causes in detail

Gray squirrels

Gray squirrels are active by day, so the giveaway is a burst of activity right after sunrise and again in late afternoon, with quiet nights. They get in where the roof meets the fascia, at soffit corners, gable and roof vents, and anywhere a branch lets them jump onto the roof, chewing a rough-edged hole to fit. Females move into attics to have young in late winter and late summer, which is why a winter squirrel problem can quickly become a nursery. See all squirrels signs →

Flying squirrels

Flying squirrels are small, nocturnal, and common in homes near wooded areas, but few people ever see one, so they're frequently mistaken for mice. In winter several of them may share one attic nest for warmth, which explains the sound of a crowd running around at 2 a.m. They tend to use a single latrine area, leaving a concentrated pile of droppings in the insulation rather than scattering them. See all squirrels signs →

Raccoons

Nothing else in an attic sounds as heavy as a raccoon — it's closer to a person walking than to scurrying. Raccoons rip their way in rather than chewing a neat hole, so look for bent vent covers, torn soffit panels, or lifted shingles. They use one spot as a toilet, and those droppings can carry raccoon roundworm, a serious parasite, so the cleanup is a job for a professional with protective equipment. See all raccoons signs →

Mice and rats

Mice and rats make lighter, more continuous sounds than squirrels, mostly at night. They don't need a chewed roofline hole — a mouse can squeeze through a gap about the size of a dime and a rat through one about the size of a quarter, often low on the house or where utility lines enter. Droppings are the easiest way to separate them: mouse pellets are about the size of a grain of rice, while rat droppings are noticeably larger and thicker. See all mice signs →

Bats

Bats are the easiest attic animal to confirm and the one you should be most hands-off with. Watch the roofline around sunset and you may see them leave one after another from a gap barely wider than a finger. They're protected in many states, can carry rabies, and exclusion is often not allowed during summer maternity season, so this is always a job for a licensed professional.

Birds

Starlings, sparrows, and other cavity-nesting birds slip into unscreened gable vents, dryer vents, and soffit gaps to build nests. The noise is daytime and lighter than a squirrel's, often with distinct chirping once eggs hatch. Many species are protected while nesting, so wait until the young fledge before removing the nest and screening the vent.

When to worry

  • You find chewed wiring in the attic — damaged insulation on electrical wires is a fire hazard and should be checked by an electrician
  • Heavy thumping at night or a large torn vent or soffit — likely a raccoon, whose droppings can carry roundworm
  • You see bats leaving the roofline or find guano — bats are a rabies risk and are protected in many states
  • You hear high-pitched crying or chittering in spring or late summer, meaning young are likely in the attic
  • A strong, spreading odor after a period of quiet, which can mean an animal died in the attic or walls
  • Water stains on the ceiling near an entry hole, a sign rain is getting in where an animal tore through

What to do now

  1. Identify the animal first by the time of the noise, the entry hole, and the droppings — the right approach depends on what's up there
  2. Find every opening from outside, then seal all the secondary gaps with metal flashing or heavy hardware cloth, leaving only the main entry open
  3. Have a one-way exclusion door installed over the main entry so animals can leave but not get back in
  4. After several days with no activity, permanently seal the main entry with metal flashing or heavy hardware cloth
  5. Trim tree branches back 6–8 feet from the roof, cap the chimney, and screen roof, gable, and soffit vents
  6. Once they're out, replace soiled insulation and have any chewed wiring inspected by an electrician
  7. For raccoons, bats, a mother with young, or any work you can't do safely from a ladder, call a licensed wildlife control operator

What not to do

  • Don't seal the entry hole while animals are still inside — trapped animals die, cause odor, or chew a new hole, sometimes into the living space
  • Don't exclude during baby season unless you're certain no young are inside; the mother will tear through to reach them
  • Don't trap and relocate squirrels yourself — rules vary by state, relocated squirrels often don't survive, and trapping a mother orphans her young
  • Don't use poison — animals die inside walls and the smell can last for weeks
  • Don't count on ammonia, mothballs, or ultrasonic devices; they rarely drive animals out, and mothballs aren't meant for that use
  • Don't clean up raccoon droppings or bat guano yourself, and never handle a bat or any other attic animal

Think you know the suspect?

These animals commonly cause this clue — see their full sign profiles:

Frequently asked questions

How do I get rid of squirrels in the attic?

Seal every secondary opening first, then put a one-way exclusion door over the main entry so the squirrels can leave but not return. After a few days with no activity, seal that hole permanently with metal flashing or heavy hardware cloth, and trim branches 6–8 feet back from the roof. Avoid doing this in late winter or late summer unless you're sure no babies are inside — or have a licensed wildlife control operator handle it.

Should I trap squirrels in the attic?

Trapping is usually not the best approach. Rules on trapping and relocating wildlife vary by state, relocated squirrels often don't survive, and trapping a nursing mother leaves her young to die in the attic. A one-way exclusion door is more effective, and a licensed wildlife control operator is the right call if trapping is truly needed.

How do I know if it's flying squirrels in my attic?

Flying squirrels are active at night, while gray squirrels are noisy at dawn and late afternoon. They often sound like several animals at once because they nest in groups in winter, and they tend to leave a concentrated pile of small droppings in one spot of the insulation. They're common near woods and are often mistaken for mice.

Is it a squirrel or a raccoon in my attic?

Raccoons are much heavier and mostly active at night, so you'll hear thumping and walking rather than light scurrying. They tear open roof vents, soffits, or shingles, leaving a large hole, while squirrels chew a rougher hole around 2–3 inches across. Raccoon removal and latrine cleanup should be left to a professional because of roundworm risk.

When is the worst time to remove squirrels from an attic?

Late winter (about February–March) and late summer (July–August), when females are raising litters. Sealing the attic then can trap babies inside, where they die and cause odor, and the mother will often chew a new hole to get back to them. If you hear young or aren't sure, wait until they're old enough to leave or call a professional.

Do mothballs or ammonia get squirrels out of the attic?

Rarely. Squirrels usually tolerate the smell, especially when they have young, and mothballs aren't intended for use as an animal repellent in living spaces. Ultrasonic devices have a similarly poor track record. Exclusion and sealing are what actually solve the problem.

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