What Type of Animal is in my Bloomington Home?
Hearing unidentified noises in your home is unsettling, to say the least. Perhaps you’re relaxing after a long day, and you hear slight scratching above you, or what sounds like fluttering. It’s not uncommon for Bloomington residents to wonder: “what is that noise?” If your tenants in your rental property report suspicious noises, you want to know what the issue is. At Critter Control of Bloomington, we believe knowledge is power, so we want to help you identify which animal is in your house. Read more below to learn which noises belong to which common wildlife critters—and give us a call at 812.363.1638 to get them out!
Before we begin breaking down which animal is in your home, some considerations can help you narrow down which critter is in your home—which will also help us identify the creature for you—such as:
- Time of day you hear the noise
- Where in your home you hear the noise
- The “size” of the noise (is often relative to the size of the animal)
What Do Bats Sound Like In Your House?
One of the most common home wildlife intruders in the Bloomington area is the small but mighty bat. We receive a high volume of bat-related calls in the late summer/early fall months when bats are most active.
What Noises Do Bats Make?
Like rodents, bats also make high pitch squeaking noises when they're in your house. You may also hear scratching as they move around, similar to mice. In addition, bats can be heard flapping their wings as they move through your home's insulation.
When Are Bats Active?
Most wildlife critters are nocturnal, and bats are no exception. Bats will typically wake up during the night and leave your house in search of water and insects. Although, it is still possible to hear them early in the morning when they return.
Where will I hear bat sounds?
Bat sounds will likely come from your Bloomington attic, but you may also hear them in your walls or chimney. It can be challenging to identify where strange noises are coming from and what animal is making them, but the experts at Critter Control of Bloomington can quickly pinpoint the issue, make an action plan, and get it resolved.
What Do Rodents Sound Like When They’re In Your House?
Rodents in the walls and attic are common in Bloomington, but just because they’re small doesn’t mean they can’t cause disproportionately major damage to your home. Members of the rodent family, including mice, rats, and squirrels, have similar tendencies to seek shelter inside warm homes when food is available. Rodents are identified by both vocalizations and their movement noises.
What Noises do Rodents Make?
The most common noise you’ll hear that’s indicative of rodent presence is light chirping and squeaking. This can happen as the rodents are moving around, or simply when they are communicating with one another. Rodents also make noises like chattering or hissing when they fight with other rodents.
When they’re moving around, rodents’ tiny claws scratch on the material they’re walking on. You may also hear slight chewing noises as the rodents keep their constantly-growing teeth at a manageable length.
When Are Rodents Active?
Like most wildlife critters, mice and rats are active at night.
When Are Squirrels Active?
If you’re hearing the noises during the day, your culprit is likely squirrels. You may also be able to distinguish squirrels from other rodents because they are busy creatures, often more than mice or rats. You will hear them running about, scratching, and digging all through the day.
What Do Raccoons Sound Like When They’re In Your House?
Among the largest critters that will potentially take residence in your home, raccoons are known to get inside walls and attics, making themselves at home.
What Noises Do Raccoons Make?
Raccoons are considered one of the most vocal creatures, known for producing up to 200 different types of vocalizations. The most common types of raccoon noises include growling, chattering, snarling, and hissing. If you hear thumping in your home, that's most likely a raccoon. Raccoons weigh, on average, between 7 and 20 pounds. which means they are quite loud while thumping around your home.
When Are Raccoons Most Active?
Raccoons are nocturnal animals. They are active in the nighttime. While raccoons do not hibernate, they find cover when the temperatures drop. This cover frequently includes Bloomington homes.
What Do Opossums Sound Like When They're In Your Home?
Opossums make a variety of noises, including hissing, scratching, and lip-smacking. While opossums aren't as likely to actively seek shelter in your Bloomington home, they are curious critters and may wander in through an open door or window to your home or crawl space.
You may be able to distinguish an opossum in your attic from a rodent because they don't stick to the edges of the attic as smaller rodents do. You will hear noises across the whole attic.
When Are Opossums Most Active?
Opossums are nocturnal, which means you will notice their activity in the nighttime hours.