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Do rats run on roofs at night?

Rats and mice are nocturnal animals that will easily find their way to the roof, where you'll hear pitter-patter sounds as they move their small feet on the roof.

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Noises from the roof can be very disturbing, especially if they occur during the night. They can keep you awake throughout the night and come tied with many structural and health problems. When you hear these noises, a plethora of questions and imaginations may run through your mind. Before you fill your mind with worst-case scenarios, you may want to find out the cause of these noises. In this article, we’ll discuss the common wild animals that can run and live on the roof producing troubling sounds.

What Animals Climb And Run On Roofs At Night And What Kind Of Sounds Do They Make?

If you hear disturbing sounds coming from your roof at night, these animals are likely to be the culprits:

• Possums

Don’t be deceived by the looks of this tree-living marsupial species – they are notorious roof noisemakers! Opossums make heavy noises as they rattle their feet on the roof in addition to screeching, grunting, and growling. What’s more, their droppings produce an uninviting smell that can even be more disturbing.

• Raccoons

Raccoons are the heaviest roof-dwelling wildlife and the cause of the loudest noise. Bang sounds are common for raccoons as they like to fall randomly on the roof. Raccoons like to “converse” with each other, so you may also hear vocal sounds from the roof.

• Squirrels

Squirrels are also quite noisy as they like to drop or jump on the roof just like raccoons. Their banging is not as heavy as that of raccoons, but the sound can be quite loud if you’re staying right below. In some instances, squirrels can drop their nuts which may cause rolling noise on the roof surface. Squirrels tend to be active in the evening and early in the morning.

• Rodents

Rats and mice are nocturnal animals that will easily find their way to the roof, where you’ll hear pitter-patter sounds as they move their small feet on the roof. Sometimes the rodents may gnaw to keep their teeth sharp or to widen small openings. There are also other wild animals and insects that are active at night and will cause various sounds on roofs:

• Birds

While birds create a beautiful scenery in the yard during the day, they can be disturbing at night. Birds cause light pattering and sometimes chirps, especially early in the morning when they are full of energy. But the worst thing about birds is that their droppings can easily spread diseases.

• Bats

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Bats may not necessarily live on your roof but can decide to be flying over it, sometimes causing disturbing sounds when they fall. Bats love to land on the exit points of the roof since, while here, they can easily get in and out of the roof cavity. Bats, just like birds, are more active during dawn and after dusk. Also, the problem with bats is that they carry fatal diseases such as rabies.

• Bees and Wasps

Bees and wasps may randomly decide to call your roof home. As they move, they may cause buzzing and tapping sounds on theroof. While these kinds of noises may be less disturbing, they can be a nuisance ifthey’re intense.

Why Are The Noises A Concern?

While you may think that noises from the roof are just ruining your nighttime sleep, they may cause more harm than that.

• Roof damage

Your roof may not reach its expected lifespan if it has been receiving roof animals frequently. If the animals’ activity won’t cause damage on the roof surface, their droppings definitely will. If the worst happens, a chewed wire can, for example, cause a fire that may burn down your entire house.

• Diseases

As mentioned earlier, some of these animals’ droppings are disease vectors. The pests themselves, a good example being rodents, can carry diseases or disease-causing pathogens that can be a real problem if not acted upon in time.

• Foul smell

Roof dwelling roof pests produce stinking droppings, the smell of which may easily find its way into your home. Also, if there are dead animals on the roof, they may produce a strong foul smell that’s quite disturbing. To avoid all these problems, you should reach out to a professional pest control expert such as Wildlife Troopers in South Florida. They will be able to propose the best solution for the wild animals disturbing you at night. While you may want to seal the roof and trap the animals by yourself, a professional will always give you a permanent solution for the roof-dwelling wildlife. So call us today at 561-809-4572 for a free quote on our wildlife removal services.

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