What Are Those Noises in My Attic? A Homeowner’s Guide to Identifying Wildlife by Sound and Time of Day Dec 09, 2025

Hearing strange noises in your attic can be stressful, especially when you don’t know what’s causing them. The good news is that most wildlife can be identified by when the noise happens and how it sounds.

Every animal has its own activity schedule and unique “sound signature.”

Here’s a clear, easy-to-follow guide to help you figure out which animal may be living above your ceiling.

🦝 Nighttime Noises (9 PM – 4 AM)

Raccoons

Raccoons are nocturnal and become most active after dark.

Homeowners often report:

Heavy, slow walking

Thumps or dragging sounds

Occasional growling, chattering, or vocal noises

Raccoons are one of the loudest animals you’ll hear in an attic because of their size and strength. If you hear something that sounds almost human walking overhead, it may be a raccoon.

🦡 Opossums

Opossums are also active at night but move much differently than raccoons.

Their sounds are typically:

Slow, heavy, clumsy footsteps

Light hissing or clicking sounds

Movement that feels “careful” rather than fast

Opossums don’t scamper like squirrels and don’t race around like rodents. Their movement has a very distinct, slow pattern.

🐁 Rats and Mice

Rats and mice are most active between midnight and dawn.

Homeowners usually hear:

Fast scratching or chewing

Tiny, quick footsteps

Activity inside walls, ceilings, or insulation

Rodents make lighter, more frequent noises than larger animals, and they’re often active when the home is quiet.

🌅 Early Morning Noises (Before Sunrise – 9 AM)

Squirrels

If you hear sounds right before the sun comes up, squirrels are the most likely culprit.

Their noises include:

Rapid scampering

Rolling or dropping nuts

Short bursts of loud scratching

Squirrels are daytime animals. If the noises stop when the morning progresses, that’s another strong clue.

☀️ Daytime Noises (10 AM – 4 PM)

Bats

Bats spend the day resting but occasionally move within attic insulation.

You may hear:

Soft fluttering

Very faint scratching

Light squeaking

Most bat movement happens during dusk or dawn, but small sounds during the day are normal for a bat colony.

Daytime Raccoon Activity (Less Common)

Sometimes a mother raccoon will move during the day to check on babies.

If you hear heavy movement during daylight hours, this could be the reason.

🌖 Dusk or Dawn Noises

Bats

As the sun sets or rises, bats become active.

This is when homeowners may hear:

Fluttering as bats exit or return

Light squeaks near entry gaps

Raccoons

Raccoons may return home at dawn after nighttime foraging.

How to Use Sound to Identify Wildlife

When trying to figure out what’s in your attic, focus on:

1. What time the noise occurs

2. How fast or slow the movement sounds

3. Whether the noise is heavy or light

4. Whether you hear scratching, chewing, or thumping

These simple clues help narrow down the animal quickly.

Not Sure What You're Hearing in Your Attic?

Even small details-like the time of day or the type of sound-can help identify which animal is causing the disturbance. If you want help figuring it out, you can: Ask inside our wildlife community: Join our growing group where homeowners share sounds, photos, and questions: Reddit.com/r/ToppersWildlifeRemoval or Follow our Facebook Tips & Tricks group: Click here. Get daily wildlife education, prevention advice, and real homeowner examples.

Need professional help? If you're in the DFW area and want an inspection, prevention advice, or wildlife removal, our team can help. The sooner you identify the animal, the easier it is to protect your home from damage and keep wildlife outside where it belongs.