Wondering if that bumping, scratching noise you hear is the wind, your imagination, or worse—whether it’s a critter that is actually in your home?

One of our customers had the same concern after hearing noises in the kitchen. They seemed to be coming from the dishwasher. Even when the dishwasher was pulled out from the counter, the homeowner couldn’t tell what was happening, but at night, the periodic bumping noise persisted. When the homeowner contacted Critter Control of the Triangle, we inspected the area and found that yes, an opossum had made its way into the house—and was under the cabinetry that surrounded the dishwasher!

Our experienced technicians located and removed the opossum (who was just as frightened as the homeowner) and sealed the space that had served as an entryway for the animal, allowing our customer to operate her dishwasher in peace.

While most of our clients don’t end up with opossums under their appliances, many people do have inklings when an animal has made its way in the home. But it can also be a little tricky to know for sure—at least initially.

Signs of a Critter In the House

Scratching noises in the attic or walls, rustling noises in the walls, the pitter patter of footsteps from above—when no children are in the house, musty odors or the smell of urine, or the sight of droppings, either spread out or in clusters, are all signs that you might have an animal intruder.

Mice, squirrels and rats are the culprits of 80% of animal home invasions. Like the opossum that visited our client, these rodents get in through small gaps or openings in the roof, siding, window frames, or around cables or pipes leading into the home.

Until you actually see the critter, it might be hard to be absolutely sure which species has taken up residence. The entry holes for mice will be smaller than those for squirrels, but any holes may be difficult to spot without a trained eye. Squirrels are more likely to remain at higher elevations, such as inside your ceiling or attic, while mice and rats may be more frequently found in garages and basements.

Rats are known for leaving black, greasy smudges around openings and have ¼ to 5/8-inch droppings, while mice have smaller, 1/8-inch droppings and squirrels leave ½ to 1 inch droppings (and often a pile of nuts).

Removing rodents, marsupials (like the opossum), or any other critter in your home can be difficult. Ensuring you’ve located the entire family, figuring out how they found their way in, making sure that entry way is sealed and safely removing the animals is often best done by professionals.

Trust Your Instincts

If you hear things that go bump in the night—or during the day, give us a call. As experts in wildlife control, we can determine if you have a pest problem, and how to solve it, including safe removal, cleanup and repair. For animal problems in Raleigh, Durham, Apex or Cary, NC, call Critter Control of the Triangle at 1-800-CRITTER or 919-382-0651.