Strange Noises in Your Home? See If Wildlife or Pests Are the Cause

Even a faint bump or soft scratching can catch your attention, and many homeowners in North Carolina are surprised at how often it happens. It’s easy to wonder whether it’s just the house settling or something moving around where you can’t see it. Moments like these are more common than you might realize.

Animals and pests rarely stay hidden for long. Raccoons, squirrels, birds, and mice often give subtle clues through noises that reveal their presence. The sounds can change depending on the time of day and the creature’s activity.

This guide from Bug Out shows you how to interpret these sounds. By noting when and where the noises occur, you can more easily determine the source. Once you understand what you’re hearing, taking the right next steps becomes much simpler.

What Do Those Odd Sounds Really Indicate?

Understanding odd sounds in your home begins with paying attention to the simplest details. Think about the pitch, pattern, and location of each noise, because these observations can reveal important clues. Taking note of when the sound happens can make identifying it much easier.

Even minor hints can narrow down the possibilities quickly. A soft scratch, subtle tap, or quiet thump can help uncover the source sooner than you imagine. Observing if the noise changes in intensity or moves around adds another layer of clarity.

Most Frequent Sounds Heard Inside Walls

Walls can serve as unexpected shelters for a variety of creatures, from tiny insects and rodents to larger animals like raccoons. When bigger wildlife squeezes through these tight spaces, they often knock into objects or scrape against surfaces, producing noticeable sounds. These are the kinds of noises you’re most likely to hear coming from inside your walls:

• Heavy Dragging Sounds in the Walls
  Ongoing, solid dragging or shuffling noises from above or below often indicate the presence of a larger animal in your home. Unlike the rapid, light patter of squirrels, these sounds are more deliberate. Animals that could be responsible include:

• • Raccoons: Raccoons frequently make loud, heavy thuds and scratching noises as they move or forage within walls and ceilings.
  • Opossums: Opossums generate slow, deliberate thumps along with occasional scratching sounds while navigating attics or walls.
• Thumps on the Roof
  Thumping from overhead, whether faint or heavy, typically signals that animals are active on your roof. Many creatures use rooftops to travel while searching for food or shelter. Likely culprits include:

• • Raccoons: Heavy, deliberate footsteps or thumping noises typically occur at night. Their larger size makes every movement across the roof more noticeable.
  • Squirrels: Quick scampering and the occasional thump of falling or rolling nuts usually happen during the day. These sounds are lighter and faster than those made by larger animals.
  • Cats: Light, rapid footsteps are often heard at night or around dawn and dusk. You may also notice occasional meows or purring near entry points.
  • Tree Branches: Branches rubbing against or striking the roof can produce sounds that mimic animals, especially on windy days. This is a common non-pest source of rooftop noises.
• Bumps in Your Attic or Crashes in the Garage
  Bigger animals are frequently drawn to garages and attics in search of safety or food. The sparse insulation and roomy layout amplify noise, and creatures may knock over items or graze walls as they travel. Potential wildlife includes:

• • Mice and Rats: Quick and nimble, these rodents scurry and climb, sometimes knocking over small items and creating loud clattering sounds.
  • Raccoons: Nocturnal raccoons often tip over tools, bins, or boxes, and their larger size makes each disturbance more noticeable.
  • Birds: Trapped birds frequently flap and strike nearby objects, producing chaotic noises as they attempt to escape.
  • Opossums: Their clumsy movements often cause them to bump into or knock over stored items while foraging at night.
• Rustling in Vents or Chimneys
  Unpredictable flapping, fluttering, or rustling can be a sign that birds or bats are stuck inside. Chimneys and vents are common sources of these sounds. Potential wildlife includes:

• • Birds: Trapped birds often create frantic flapping and crashing noises as they strike walls, vents, or chimneys while trying to escape.
  • Bats: Bats may emit rapid fluttering sounds or high-pitched squeaks as they try to leave confined areas like attics or vents.
• Gnawing or Grinding in Walls
  To prevent their teeth from becoming too long, rodents chew on items like wood, plastic, and wiring. These sounds often repeat and are usually heard at night or in the early hours of the morning. Potential offenders include:

• • Squirrels: Typically active during the day, squirrels create noticeable sounds as they dash through wall cavities or other tight spaces.
  • Mice and Rats: Mostly active at night, mice quietly forage for food while rats chew or move through hidden areas after dark.
• Scratches in Walls
  Scratching noises can make anyone anxious, but paying attention to their direction and rhythm can give important hints. Is the sound fixed or does it move around? These are the animals most often responsible:

• • Raccoons: Loud thuds and slow, deliberate scratching often happen at night as raccoons move through the space.
  • Carpenter Ants: Soft rustling or faint tapping noises may come from wooden beams or other structural areas where carpenter ants are active.
  • Mice and Rats: Quick, subtle sounds after dark, along with chewing or scurrying in hidden areas, often point to these fast-moving rodents.
  • Squirrels: Short bursts of scratching and rapid movements are usually heard during the day in walls or attic spaces.
• A Buzzing or Humming in the Walls
  Ongoing humming or buzzing often signals the presence of stinging insects. The sound results from numerous wings moving quickly and tends to be most noticeable on bright, warm afternoons. Examples of insects that make these noises include:

• • Hornets: Strong, aggressive buzzing often points to hornets being active inside a wall cavity.
  • Bees: A steady, low hum typically indicates a bee colony nesting in a wall or attic space.
  • Wasps: A sharp, continuous humming sound usually signals wasps constructing a nest within your walls.
• Ticking or Clicking Inside Walls
  Ongoing, faint clicking or ticking inside your walls can be a warning that insects are attacking the wood. These sounds usually happen in bursts, making them easiest to hear during the night. Potential pests include:

• • Termites: Consistent, faint clicking or tapping sounds inside walls can signal termites consuming the wood.
  • Carpenter Ants: Gentle, uneven ticking or rustling from wooden structures often indicates carpenter ants are active.

Mysterious Sounds in Your House? Bug Out Can Help

Noises ranging from soft rustling to loud thumping within walls can make anyone nervous. With careful inspection, we can determine exactly which animal is responsible. Identifying the source early helps prevent further damage and stress. Wildlife activity often increases with the seasons in North Carolina, and our exclusion services ensure they stay out.

Don’t delay! Call Bug Out today to protect your home from unwanted animals and pests.