Rats??

[sarahfleming]

Does anyone have the same experiences as the following and if so any remedies??

Every night recently we have heard tearing and scratching in the walls and ceilings. Is this rats and if so how can we get rid? If its not rats what is it?

 

[delgirl]

Some suggestions as to what it might be here.

A neighbour thought she had rats or mice in the attic recently, turned out to be a pigeon that got into the roof space.

 

[extopia]

Could be rats, or maybe just mice.

Any other evidence? Droppings, shredded paper?

Try setting a trap for a start. Or you can call a rat company and ask them to set bait stations to confirm rat activity. Costs around €200 depending on your property size and they'll want to leave the stations (which don't trap rats, by the way, just attempt to confirm their presence) for a couple of weeks.

Hopefully it's just mice.

 

[Gatherer]

It may be mice, which can make noise disproportionate to their size.
Had some experience in the past... used a sonic deterrent which may just have coincided with their departure or may have helped. Cost about 40 euro.
The best way is to make sure there is nothing to interest them- which means being extremely scrupulous about making sure there isn't even a crumb of food on floors or worktops.

 

[Vazelothir]

if the sounds are coming from your attic I'd guess that it is more likely to be mice (unless you are in a bungalow)... but the way to tell is by the droppings... little black pellets indicate rats, mice are more likely to leave things nibbled/shredded..

this is the time of year when they get settled in for the winter so you need to act fast... (normally would have been earlier but october was very mild)