Worrying noises coming from the loft...rodents!

[gremlin]

Laying in bed this morning, contemplating life and the greater meaning of the universe, only to hear a scurrying and scratching noise, seemingly coming from the loft. Got out of bed and moved to the corner of the room and, yep, deffo something up there. I'm putting my money on a squirrel as there seem to have been a fair few of them knocking around around lately.

Now, if I'm right, the correct way forward is a baited 'humane' trap and then a quick dispatch, right?

How do they fair against a bit of rat poison up there? I'm reluctant to use it, for two reasons, one being the knock-on effect if anything eats the carcass, and secondly, the carcass may lay in the loft sticking to high heaven, but all's fair in love and rodent removal, right?

I suppose as a last resort I could grab the neighbour's cat and chuck it up there, close the loft hatch and see how it gets on.

Alternatively, it could be our best friend, the brown rat. I'm assuming any trap for a squirrel will also get a rat?


Who in RTTL will rid me of this troublesome rodent?

[Cousin Jack]

We had similar noises a few years back. Twas mice, although from the noise I was expecting something much bigger. Local council pest control sorted them out, not free but reasonable cost. Also gave good advice on how to stop them coming back - get rid of the ivy on the house.

[KungFooBob]

Sure its not birds coming and going?

Squeezing through a gap where the tile edging has fallen out?

[Wscad]

Could be mouse,rat squirrel or bird. Try one of those ultrasonic gizmos. Screwfix sell them I think.

One interesting point. If you catch/trap a grey squirrel (aka Canadian tree rat) it’s against the law to release it back into the wild. You must kill it.

[DefTrap]

Probably mice, they seem to be the first to arrive out of the cold and are the least bothered by living cheek by jowl with you.

I got tired of traps in the end and went back to poison. There's not much to a mouse so they dessicate pretty quickly.

[Count Steer]

Regularly get mice in the loft. This winter though, thought we had something bigger so put a trail camera up there. Mice taking selfies! Have eliminated those with poison but don't like using it so have left baited snap-traps up there for a while in case there are more. Wouldn't be so bad if they didn't gnaw electrics (not a problem so far, touch wood, but I know people with thatches that have to have armoured electrics - may be a fire thing too, dunno).

I'd use humane traps if it was easy to get up there daily.

Squirrels can be a real pain but are easier to keep out.

[Trinity765]

Laying in bed this morning, contemplating life and the greater meaning of the universe..

Wow! I only get as far as "Where did I go to sleep and what day is it?"

[Skub]

Have you watched 'The Exorcist'?

It's either that of Shoggoths.

[Mr Moofo]

I have a man-shed that has a mouse problem. Humane traps are a waste of time. They are not humane ( if two mice end up in one trap they fight to the death! Or at least the do on the south coast.

Std mouse trap with peanut butter - nothing else works like peanut butter.
The little fuckers are now in the house ( I have caught 8 of them) - but the infestation seems to have gone.

If it is a rat (but TBH unlikely - but the can get up drainpipes etc) you will need another level of bait / traps. Essentially big fuck off ones that look like you catch catch bears in them ( Amazon is your friend).

It could also be a bird - we have starlings that regularly like to get into the loft spaces - if they make enough noise, I let them out. If they don't , then they die! But they do make a lot of noise

[MrLongbeard]

only to hear a scurrying and scratching noise, seemingly coming from the loft

Sorry, the wardrobe was full and I couldn't fit.

[gremlin]

Laying in bed this morning, contemplating life and the greater meaning of the universe..

Wow! I only get as far as "Where did I go to sleep and what day is it?"

I wasn't really, but it sounds a bit better than 'Laying in bed this morning, scratching my nuts and desperately willing it to be Saturday', which is nearer the truth.

[Taipan]

Could be very big spiders! Quite a few gone feral down your way...

[slowsider]

only to hear a scurrying and scratching noise, seemingly coming from the loft

Sorry, the wardrobe was full and I couldn't fit.

Na na ne narnia!

[the_priest]

Trog's Shoggoths have immigrated to your loft. You have days left.... dibs on the barbeque!

[636mick]

Check it’s not bats. We had similar noises, found a bats nest with babies in the chimney where it joins the gable. They squeak like mices, droppings look similar. Lasted about 5 weeks, then the babies left to go out in the big wide world and mummy and daddy bat returned to their silent contemplations. They are still there as far as I know.
Or it’s squirrels, they do much damage.
Mick

[gremlin]

Been up there. Nada. No droppings nor sign of rodents. Usually they leave a rather unique odour, but nothing to suggest ratty is at home.

I'll monitor the situation, but if you don't hear from me in the next few days, assume James Herbert had it right when he wrote those books....

[slowsider]

Fairies. Wearing boots.
You gotta believe me.

[Bobble]

Could be Glis Glis (aka edible doormice)

https://www.dialapest.co.uk/Data%20Shee ... 0Glis.html

if you do find them, could be a tasty little snack!

[Taipan]

Been up there. Nada. No droppings nor sign of rodents. Usually they leave a rather unique odour, but nothing to suggest ratty is at home.

Deffo big spiders then. Run! For the love of God, run!

[Supermofo]

Holy thread resurrection!

Week ago Sunday heard some scratching in my loft. Stuck a couple of rat traps I had in the garage up there and caught a field mouse by the following morning. Now I knew it was mice I stuck the 6 mouse traps I had in the garage up there too. Speaking to my neighbour, turns out they had some mice in their house a couple of weeks before that. So, being terraced I presume they've moved to mine via the walls/loft.

Caught 2 mice in the first 2 days then nothing for 6 days although could hear them. Caught another yesterday but last night at 3.15 am they sounded like a group of Morris dancers in clogs Annoyingly they sound like they are nesting above my window, which due to the shape of my roof is pretty much inaccessible, I might get there crawling on my belly but could be interesting getting back! Also my loft has a LOT of insulation. Done as part of a gov scheme (not spray foam) it's about 12 inches thick if not deeper so I can't see shit and laying traps is awkward as only the middle is boarded and the joists etc aren't visible. Likewise moving the insulation is going to be a nightmare.

I've now got 10 traps up there, all snap traps baited with peanut butter. Got a plan to tape a couple onto an off cut of mdf and push that as close to the facia boards as I can as can't think of any other way of getting close to the bastards.

Now the question is, I also have poison boxes in my garage. Do I use one of those as well? I'm torn between
1. No they'll stink like the devil if they die up there
2. Use every available means to get rid of the little shits.

Anything else I can try? I think trying to stop them coming in is a no go as there are plenty of places I imagine they can get in esp if via next door, they only need the tiniest hole and 80% of my loft is very very difficult to access if you're a 47 year old fat git.

Currently the traps are around the water tank, along the wall between front and back of house as they seem to make noise at either end of the house and I assume they use that wall. Plus a few around the boarding and some in places where I've moved the insulation aside.

I did call a pest control bloke but to be fair to him he said what I was doing it pretty much all you can do, which is fair enough but He did say there is a chance I might have to live with them till Spring. Fuck dat if I can help it.

I feel like I'm in Man Vs Bee and will set fire to the house to win eventually.