“I hear them running around all night, but it’s silent during the day.” “It sounds like a bowling tournament above my bedroom at 7 AM.”

As wildlife control operators in Louisville, we hear these descriptions every day. While seeing the animal is the best identification, hearing them is often the first clue. Animals follow strict circadian rhythms (sleep cycles). By noting when you hear the noise and what it sounds like, you can often identify the species before we even arrive.

Here is your guide to decoding the bumps in the night (and day).

Scenario 1: Noises During the Day (Diurnal)

If the noise starts around sunrise, continues sporadically throughout the day, and stops completely at dusk, you almost certainly have Eastern Gray Squirrels.

• The Schedule: Squirrels are diurnal, just like humans. They wake up at dawn, leave the attic to forage, return for a mid-day nap, go out again, and return at dusk to sleep.
• The Sound: Fast, frantic scurrying. You might hear the sound of nuts rolling (like marbles on wood) if they are storing food. They are hyperactive and quick.
• Silence at Night: Gray squirrels sleep at night. If you hear noises at 2 AM, it is not a gray squirrel.

Exception: Birds (like starlings) are also active during the day, but their sounds are usually fluttering, chirping, or scratching near the eaves/vents, rather than running across the ceiling.

Scenario 2: Noises at Night (Nocturnal)

If your attic is silent all day but comes alive after the sun goes down, you are dealing with a nocturnal animal. In Louisville, this is usually one of three culprits:

1. Raccoons

• The Sound: Heavy. Very heavy. It sounds like a human is walking in your attic. You will hear slow, deliberate thumping steps, not fast scurrying.
• Vocalizations: You may hear chattering, growling, or if babies are present, a “chittering” bird-like sound.
• Timing: They leave shortly after dusk to forage and return before dawn.

2. Southern Flying Squirrels

Yes, Louisville has flying squirrels! They are strictly nocturnal and live in colonies.

• The Sound: Unlike the heavy thumping of a raccoon, flyers sound like a “soft bowling alley.” You might hear acorns dropping and rolling.
• Timing: Peak activity is often late night, from 10 PM to 3 AM.

3. Rats or Mice

• The Sound: Light scratching, gnawing, or pitter-patter of small feet. It often sounds like it’s in the walls, not just the ceiling.
• Pattern: Consistent scratching in one spot (gnawing) or running along specific paths (following pipes/wires).

Scenario 3: Noises All the Time

If you hear noises day and night, you likely have a severe infestation or multiple species.

• Example: You might have squirrels during the day and rats at night.
• Bats: Bats are nocturnal, but they can be noisy during the day if the attic gets too hot and they are moving around to find a cooler spot in the roost. They make a high-pitched squeaking or “crawling” sound in wall voids.

Why Identification Matters

We ask about timing because the removal strategy depends on it.

• Squirrels require one-way exclusion doors mounted on the roof.
• Raccoons require heavy-duty cage traps and often baby removal.
• Rats require snap traps and rigorous sealing of foundation gaps.

If you misidentify the animal, you might set the wrong trap or seal a hole that traps a dangerous animal inside your home.

Hearing noises right now? Check the clock. Then call Critter Removal of Louisville. We’ll confirm your suspicions with a thorough inspection and get them out for good.