Is your house haunted, or is it roof rats?
Footsteps across the ceiling after dark. Scratching inside the wall right when the house goes quiet. Something rolling across the attic floor at 3 a.m. If your house sounds haunted, we have news for you, and it's mostly good news.
It's a long-running joke on our team: in Southwest Florida, the haunted house usually turns out to have roof rats in the attic. Now and then it's bats or squirrels. We have yet to seal a house and find a ghost.
Take the quiz: haunted or infested?
We built a short, six-question quiz to help you sort it out. It asks when the noises happen, where they come from and what they sound like, then gives you our best guess: ghost, or uninvited guest. It takes about a minute. Turn the sound on if you're feeling brave.
Take the Haunted or Infested? quiz
What the "ghost" usually is
- Roof rats. The usual suspect. Roof rats are climbers. They run along power lines, branches and rooflines and slip into attics through small gaps. They're busiest at night, so you hear scurrying, scratching and gnawing overhead once the house settles down.
- Bats. Fluttering, squeaking or scratching near the roofline, most often around dusk when they head out for the night.
- Squirrels. Busy, thumping noises in the morning and late afternoon. Squirrels keep daytime hours.
Why they move in
Roof rats come inside for shelter. A dry, quiet attic is a perfect place to nest and raise a family, out of the weather and away from predators. That's why the noises keep coming back until the way in is closed. As long as there's an opening, the next roof rat will find it.
How we make the haunting stop
We find the ways in and seal them for good from the outside, using stainless steel and commercial-grade, exterior-grade materials. No poison, ever. Once your home is sealed, nothing new can get in, and the attic goes quiet again.
Our work is backed by our lifetime warranty, renewed each year with a $150 home inspection.
Hear something tonight?
Make a quick note of when you hear it and where in the house it seems to come from. Then reach out, and we'll help you figure out who's really up there.
Call or text (239) 946-RATS (7287)
Your house isn't haunted. It just needs sealing.
Wondering where roof rats could get into your home? See your roof from above, free. Type your address and look for the gaps.
