Florida Pest Answers
"There's something scratching around in my attic at night—what is it and should I be worried?"
Hearing something move around above your ceiling is unsettling, and your instinct to figure out what it is right away is the right one. In Florida, the two most likely culprits are roof rats and squirrels—and the timing of the noise is your best first clue.
Roof rats are nocturnal, so if the scratching and scurrying kicks in after dark and quiets down by morning, rats are the most likely explanation. Squirrels, on the other hand, are active during the day. If you’re hearing movement in the early morning or late afternoon—and it stops once it gets dark—squirrels are the more probable cause.
The sounds themselves can also help. Rats tend to produce lighter, quicker scratching and gnawing sounds. Squirrels are heavier and move with more of a thud, sometimes rolling or dropping things.
Either way, both can cause real damage. Rats chew through wiring and insulation; squirrels gnaw on wood, creating entry points that let in water and other pests. Don’t wait to see if the problem resolves itself—it won’t. A professional inspection will confirm exactly what you’re dealing with and get it sorted safely.
