Something is living in my attic. What should I do?
Short answer. Figure out what it is from the timing and signs, call a licensed wildlife control professional to remove it humanely, and only then seal the entry points on the roof and eaves. Sealing first can trap an animal inside, where it will either die or chew a new hole out through your roof or ceiling.
Clues to what you have
- Squirrels: active in the morning and late afternoon, fast scurrying, often nesting in fall and late winter. Very common across North Georgia.
- Flying squirrels and rats: active at night, lighter scratching, droppings along their paths.
- Raccoons: heavy thumping at night, torn soffits or vents, large droppings.
- Bats: squeaking around dusk and dark droppings that crumble, often below a gap at a gable or ridge. Bats have legal protections and timing rules for exclusion, so they are strictly a job for professionals.
- Birds: daytime chirping near a gable vent or an opening at the eave.
Why removal comes first
A licensed wildlife control operator can identify the animal, use one-way doors or traps within the rules, and time the work around spring babies. Georgia regulates trapping and relocating wildlife, which is another reason to use someone who does this for a living. Once the animals are out, the openings should be closed promptly.
Where they get in from the roof
- Gaps where the soffit meets the roof at corners and dormers.
- Torn gable vent screens and open ridge vent ends.
- Chewed plumbing vent boots and gaps around other penetrations.
- Rotted fascia or decking at the eaves, often from gutter overflow.
- Tree limbs within jumping distance of the roof.
After removal, check the insulation for droppings and urine and the wiring for chew marks. More on overhanging limbs in trees and your roof, and on the eave parts animals target in roof anatomy explained.