Scratching in My Attic (rental, buying, live in)

[Nessyb]

Good morning. Something started scratching in my attic tonight at this ungodly hour. I live in the Universtiy area and need to get an exterminator. Of course I have very limited budget. Here are my questions. Is there and additional cost for a visit from the exterminator on the weekend? Does anyone have any recommendations? I am not even willing to go up there to explore due to the fear that this thing that sounded as if it was going to claw through the ceiling may turn on me. Thanks in advance.

[Native_Son]

Option A: Sack up and take a look. You may only need to buy $3.00 worth of mouse traps.

Option B: Shell out $150-300+ dollars for a varmint eradicator to visit your home. Maybe more for a solution.


I can personally guarantee you that nothing in your attic will threaten your health, much less your life.

[swampfoxer]

more than likely a squirrel. They use to get in my attic and scratch around like that. We finally found the opening and plugged the hole with some mesh screen during the day when he was out hunting for nuts.

[28173]

I would install a couple of mice/rat traps and also look for openings large enough for a squirrel (and pug it or cover with mesh).
You could also buy/set a squirrel trap if noise continues.

You could also consider buying and spreading smell deterrent chemicals against all kind of creatures (HD, Lowes) even moth balls. Hope your attic is fairly well isolated and smell does not get onto your house...

Don't worry, go during the day, your unwanted resident should not attack you.

[Sylbeth]

We had the same problem....only I don't think it was a "he".....we think it was a female squirrel...starting to nest. My DH filled the hole...and painted over it. A few days later...there were about three holes in our siding...and as I was leaving for work, the squirrel was peaking out of the biggest one (I guess to bid me farewell!!).
My DH bought a squirrel cage/trap, and put it near the hole....later that morning she was caught. DH took "her" for a ride about ten miles away...and let her out in a wooded area. So far....we haven't had any more problems!! Try it...it might help your situation!!

[NCproud]

We use to have mice in our walls and attic. Seems like this time of year they had a heyday. Put poison in the attic, then it smelled like a horse died for a few days. No problems in years, must be that we have cats.

[cheesecracker]

Originally Posted by Native_Son

Option A: Sack up and take a look. You may only need to buy $3.00 worth of mouse traps.

Option B: Shell out $150-300+ dollars for a varmint eradicator to visit your home. Maybe more for a solution.


I can personally guarantee you that nothing in your attic will threaten your health, much less your life.

Optian A !
Not trying to make you feel too bad, but.........
Think of it like this.
We have our soldiers on the other side of the world clearing buildings and engaging in close quarters battle and possibly hand to hand combat.

Are you really going to let a squirrel back you down?
Are you not higher up on the food chain?
Take pride in your evoltionary rank.
This is your man vs beast moment,.
We have all had them.
One time I starred down a racoon. Yea that's right, he blinked. I am a Man!

Suggestions:
Win! Make it your mission.

Don't go it alone. Grab a battle buddy.

Get a really bright flash light with a wide surface area lens. This can disorient the intruder.

Armor. Wear a helmet. Like a bicycle helmet. If this thing jumps on you, you don't want to bump your head on the rafters and knock yourself out.

Weapon. You need a long stick, with a net on it. You can probably pick one up at the swimming pool supply store.
If that doesn't work, grab a paintball gun and light hiss furry tail up.

Fatigues. Blue Jeans , Steel toe boots, and thick gloves.
You don't want to lose any "digits" in the process.

The rest is up to you.
When it is all said and done, we can all swap war stories and throw back some beer.

[Trackwatch]

Originally Posted by Native_Son

I can personally guarantee you that nothing in your attic will threaten your health, much less your life.

Sorry, but your guarantee is worthless, there are many things that can be in her attic that may be seriously dangerous and yes even deadly.

[Native_Son]

Originally Posted by Trackwatch

Sorry, but your guarantee is worthless, there are many things that can be in her attic that may be seriously dangerous and yes even deadly.

ma'am, there are many things that could be in her attic. But they aren't seriously dangerous. deadly? hardly... unless you're talking about the remote possibility of contracting the hanta virus (you're in much more danger driving to the store for mousetraps).

I guarantee it, and my guarantee is far from worthless. this ain't ohio, where a man's word is worth no more than LeBron's James word... this is NC, and only one in ten people here are FIFOs so you have to understand we are operating at a higher vibration than what you may be used to up there in the midwest.

[paulosfm]

Check with a local rental store that rents tools, etc. I have seen the "friendly" traps that could be used to trap and move the critter if it is a squirrel. Set a mouse trap - use peanut butter as the bait. I'm betting it is either squirrel or a mouse. If you catch anything, relocate the squirrel, and reset the trap. Catch a mouse - you get the picture. Good luck. Been there, done that, as it were.