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Post by Ken on Apr 21, 2020 6:03:54 GMT -6
I was asleep at 4am and was woken up by thumping, scratching and clawing... in the attic. Eventually I found myself outside with a flashlight but found nothing. Came back inside and still heard the noise. Then my wife woke up and wondered WTF was up. Then the noise stopped. I could not go back to sleep so I got up and started chugging coffee. When the sun came up I walked around and saw a spot that I'm familiar with in the front of the house right above the den window. It's a weird spot where two rooflines come together and make a V-shaped spot. Years ago birds used to hang around up there and try to make a nest. I had gone up there and fastened a piece of wood and hit some small gaps with Great Stuff and that was probably 10 years ago. Last night someone took some teeth to the whole area. Squirrel possibly. Raccoon probably. The noise I heard sounded LOUD and HEAVY. But I suppose everything sounds loud at 4am. Animal control has been contacted.
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Post by chils on Apr 21, 2020 6:11:07 GMT -6
I was asleep at 4am and was woken up by thumping, scratching and clawing... in the attic. Eventually I found myself outside with a flashlight but found nothing. Came back inside and still heard the noise. Then my wife woke up and wondered WTF was up. Then the noise stopped. I could not go back to sleep so I got up and started chugging coffee. When the sun came up I walked around and saw a spot that I'm familiar with in the front of the house right above the den window. It's a weird spot where two rooflines come together and make a V-shaped spot. Years ago birds used to hang around up there and try to make a nest. I had gone up there and fastened a piece of wood and hit some small gaps with Great Stuff and that was probably 10 years ago. Last night someone took some teeth to the whole area. Squirrel possibly. Raccoon probably. The noise I heard sounded LOUD and HEAVY. But I suppose everything sounds loud at 4am. Animal control has been contacted. I was asleep at 4am and was woken up by thumping, scratching and clawing... in the attic. Eventually I found myself outside with a flashlight but found nothing. Came back inside and still heard the noise. Then my wife woke up and wondered WTF was up. Then the noise stopped. I could not go back to sleep so I got up and started chugging coffee. When the sun came up I walked around and saw a spot that I'm familiar with in the front of the house right above the den window. It's a weird spot where two rooflines come together and make a V-shaped spot. Years ago birds used to hang around up there and try to make a nest. I went up there and fastened a piece of wood and hit some small gaps with Great Stuff. Last night someone took some teeth to the whole area. Squirrel possibly. Raccoon probably. The noise I heard sounded LOUD and HEAVY. But I suppose everything sounds loud at 4am. Animal control has been contacted.
Raccoon most likely. Or a rat. I had a run in with rats in my crawlspace. Caught one male as big as my chihuahua. Below is a female which was much smaller than the male--I was so freaked out by his size I didn't think to take a pic.
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Post by zaphod2319 on Apr 21, 2020 6:21:45 GMT -6
If I had a dog rat, I would sell the house!!
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Post by Ken on Apr 21, 2020 6:27:00 GMT -6
I don't know if we have rats around here... at least I have never seen one. My trail camera has picked up skunks, possum, raccoons, cats, squirrels and birds. I thought I was hallucinating. The noise was so loud and felt so close I expected to see claws coming through the drywall right in front of me. Then suddenly it stopped. If these animal control guys aren't able to get here today I will have to find a way to seal it up myself. I know that's not the answer because someone could still be up there but I'm not sure what else to do.
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Post by chils on Apr 21, 2020 6:49:25 GMT -6
I don't know if we have rats around here... at least I have never seen one. My trail camera has picked up skunks, possum, raccoons, cats, squirrels and birds. I thought I was hallucinating. The noise was so loud and felt so close I expected to see claws coming through the drywall right in front of me. Then suddenly it stopped. If these animal control guys aren't able to get here today I will have to find a way to seal it up myself. I know that's not the answer because someone could still be up there but I'm not sure what else to do. Live trap and baloney. I actually put snap rat traps inside my live trap. Both of those rats set off the live trap as well as the snap trap. The big one got killed but the one above got hit on the nose and was bouncing around in it. Tried to eat me alive when dragging the trap out. .22 to the head calmed it down.
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Post by bklmt2000 on Apr 21, 2020 6:55:25 GMT -6
My next-door neighbor had a problem for years with birds/squirrels getting in their attic; the side of their house closest to us (2nd floor) had a gap where birds had pecked away enough at the wood trim there that birds and squirrels could enter easily. I recall several times seeing birds fly right up to said gap and then vanish, almost like a magic trick.
They called an animal control place, and when the guy went into the attic to inspect things, he found more than a few dead birds, squirrels, etc. Not a pretty scene, I was told.
They ended up getting a metal plate bolted in place, painted to match the existing trim, and put wire cages over their roof vents, to keep the critters out. Last time I talked to our neighbor (pre-Covid) about it, he said that the fixes they had done worked.
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Post by Ken on Apr 21, 2020 7:13:13 GMT -6
The guy just called me back. He sounded like a dweeby high school kid which does not give me confidence. I kind of wanted a guy that sounds like Larry The Cable Guy. Also, they can't get out here until tomorrow and he says to leave the opening so I don't block the animal inside. I really don't like the sound of that. Should I call another place? EDIT: I called another place and they're coming out today. He sounded a lot more capable... I know that sounds weird and I shouldn't judge someone's ability by their voice but I want action, dammit!
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matt6150
Full Member
Patient Zero
Posts: 142
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Post by matt6150 on Apr 21, 2020 7:47:43 GMT -6
I trapped a squirrel just two nights ago in the "attic" of my poolhouse. He chewed through some wood and great stuff to get out. I sealed it back up thinking he got out but by yesterday afternoon he was trying to get out again. I left the whole open last night. Need to go investigate this morning.
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Post by Ken on Apr 21, 2020 7:56:58 GMT -6
I trapped a squirrel just two nights ago in the "attic" of my poolhouse. He chewed through some wood and great stuff to get out. I sealed it back up thinking he got out but by yesterday afternoon he was trying to get out again. I left the whole open last night. Need to go investigate this morning. It's wild kingdom, man. I would expect you to see a little more activity than me but again... my trail camera has witnessed a lot of critters in my yard. First the raccoons used to knock over the garbage cans and throw trash all over the yard. The rolling garbage cans stopped that because they can't seem to open the hinged lid. Then I had possums living in my firewood and I cleaned that up. Now this. WTF, man. I also have to say that all of these "wildlife control" places are all about the humane treatment of the animal too. Sorry but feck that sh!t. I'm not trying to be a dick but that doesn't really interest me.
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Post by Ken on Apr 21, 2020 8:25:52 GMT -6
Trap is in place. The guy assures me that it's a raccoon and he assures me that it's still in the attic and he didn't go up there. This should get interesting.
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matt6150
Full Member
Patient Zero
Posts: 142
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Post by matt6150 on Apr 21, 2020 9:46:00 GMT -6
So I assume when he catches it he will take it with him?
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deerslyr
Full Member
Cheesehead
Posts: 158
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Post by deerslyr on Apr 21, 2020 9:56:48 GMT -6
So I assume when he catches it he will take it with him? Are raccoons like squirrels? High in cholesterol? Good luck Ken. That would just weird me out.
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Post by jkor on Apr 21, 2020 10:01:12 GMT -6
I live in a 125 year old house. All the animals have figured out how to get in. There's no hope. I just nod and wave when I see one in the house. ETA: about a month ago my GFs 16-yo caught a mouse scurrying away when she walked into the kitchen in the middle of the night. She texted the GF and I "We OFFICIALLY have mice". I just laughed to myself. Oh, girl, if you only knew what else was living in this house with you.
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Post by Ken on Apr 21, 2020 10:24:48 GMT -6
So I assume when he catches it he will take it with him? I assume he will release it although I don't know where. The consensus is that it's common for raccoons to enter an attic between February and May because it's a pregnant female and she's looking for a safe place to give birth and raise young. I also read that they will probably give birth 1-2 weeks after finding their new "home". The question is whether this things needs to get outside for food and/or water between now and the day of the blessed event. If so, it should end up in the trap. What if it doesn't come out? What if it *does* come out but there are babies in the attic? I don't have time for this nature bidness.
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Post by Ken on Apr 21, 2020 10:26:20 GMT -6
I live in a 125 year old house. All the animals have figured out how to get in. There's no hope. I just nod and wave when I see one in the house. ETA: about a month ago my GFs 16-yo caught a mouse scurrying away when she walked into the kitchen in the middle of the night. She texted the GF and I "We OFFICIALLY have mice". I just laughed to myself. Oh, girl, if you only knew what else was living in this house with you. So do you hear scratching and clawing at night while you're asleep? You haven't lived until scratching and clawing (in very close proximity, btw) wakes you from a deep sleep. Sincerely... I was wondering if I was dreaming.
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