Have you been hearing scratching noises under your bed at night?
You aren’t the first one. Many people report that, at some point, they’ve experienced this issue.
Luckily, you can quickly identify what’s causing them.
So, Why Do You Hear Scratching Noises Under Your Bed?
The scratching could mean that you have unwanted visitors in your home. Rodents are known to cause scratching sounds under the beds, walls, and ceiling.
Rodents love to warm dark areas. They usually come out at night to look for food and scamper around your house. That is why you will hear strange noises at night. If the scratching sounds happen regularly, it could be that rats or mice are moving around.
What Sounds Do Rodents Make?
If you think you have a rodent infestation, you need to be on guard to spot other signs of these unwanted guests.
Scratching is one of the main sounds you want to look for. Rodents make this noise when digging, crawling, or climbing.
Also, watch out for gnawing made by mice and ruts when chewing, squeaking, and scurrying that tell you the rodents are moving from one place to another in your house.
Remember that rats and mice are nocturnal animals.
Therefore, you may only hear these sounds at night or when you are heading to bed.
But please note they aren’t the only animals that can cause noise in your house.
You may have squirrels in your house if you hear sounds during the day.
These animals are diurnal. Raccoons and opossums can also invade your house.
Five Signs Of A Rodent Invasion
Rodents can transmit diseases that can risk you and other family members. Therefore, you should deal with the problem right away.
Scratching under your bed or walls is not a surefire method of knowing whether you have rodents in your house.
Here are some additional signs that there could be a pest issue:
1. Droppings
How large or small the number of droppings will help you know how big the problem is and how long you’ve had rodents in your house.
Check the cupboards and places where you have food for these droppings. Once you spot them, check to see if you can find nests.
If the droppings are gray and crumble, the infestation is old. But if they are moist and brown, you are dealing with a fresh infestation.
2. Urine Odor
Like humans, rodents tend to urinate frequently.
You can smell the urine if you have a large infestation. It will have a strong ammonia-like smell at first. But with time, it will become still, and the smell will be more unpleasant.
If the infestation is large, you will likely find urine pillars stacked in mounds.
3. Holes in Desks and Drawers
Rodents are intelligent and use various tricks to get into your house and build a nest.
These animals chew holes in drawers and wooden furniture pieces to get in.
Then, they will start building a nest. Look out for small holes enough for the rodent to fit in your cabinets to breed and live.
4. Holes in Clothes
Rodents build their nests using cloth scraps and paper.
So, if your sweater or dress has a hole, you could have a rodent infestation. Also, these animals can rip holes in the insulation.
Look out for shredded cloth fibers, especially in dark areas of your house.
5. Nests
Rodents build a nest in concealed places. Their nests usually have unique characteristics that make them easy to recognize.
Mice and rats look for undisturbed places to build their nest.
They use shredded paper, plant matter, fabric scraps, and cardboard. So thoroughly investigate your attic and home’s foundation to see if there are any signs.
What Should Do If You Have a Rodent Infestation?
1. Professional Help
If you think you could be having a rodent infestation, the best thing to do is to get in touch with a pest control professional.
They can access your house, determine the extent of the infestation and help you to get rid of it.
Calling a professional can take the pressure off you, and you are assured of proper cleanup.
2. Get Rid Of Entry Points
But you can also take other steps in the meantime to prevent the situation from worsening. These include closing off all entry points.
The first step should be to prevent the rats and mice from entering your house if you are dealing with an infestation.
Make sure you seal holes in the floors, cupboards, and walls. Also, remember to trim your grass and weed and ensure that your compound is free from any piles of debris.
3. Food Sources
Once you have done that, the next step is eliminating all food sources.
The two things that attract rodents to your house are shelter and food. So make sure you store your food correctly in well-sealed containers.
Also, please remove any exposed pet food between your pet’s feeding times.
4, Set Traps
Again, consider setting traps. While this isn’t a long-lasting solution, it can be an effective way to get rid of rodents, especially mice.
Set these traps close to their entry points. We should also mention that poison is not advisable as mice could die inside the walls, creating an unpleasant odor.
How to Keep Rodents from Your House?
You can prevent rodents from entering your house by making it as inhospitable as possible.
1. Cleanliness
Start by practicing good sanitation. This may not help get rid of rodents if they are already present in your home, but it will make your house unattractive to them.
Rodents don’t need a lot of food to survive. Several crumbs here and there are enough to keep them going.
So, remember to vacuum your house, wipe your counters, and remove residues and crumbs. Also, store your food in tight containers and secure your garbage properly.
2. Cat
Additionally, you may want to bring a cat into your house if you have a mouse problem.
Cats hunt and kill mice naturally.
Therefore, bringing one into your house may help keep these rodents away.
3. Dehumidifier, Screen And Sweeps
Also, you can invest in a dehumidifier. This will keep rodents off your attic, basement, and crawl spaces.
You can again consider buying durable wire screens and placing them over vents, where your chimneys open, and other gaps.
Also, if your budget allows, install door sweeps on all your exterior doors.
4. Inspect All Inbound Packages
Lastly, be careful of what you bring into your house. Make sure you inspect all items to ensure that there aren’t mice thriving in them.
These include holiday decorations and last season’s ski clothing.
Final Thoughts
Scratching noises under your bed could be caused by animals like mice, rats, or squirrels.
But attempting to remove wildlife from your home by yourself isn’t advisable.
It’s best to call trained professionals to handle this problem effectively.
If you keep hearing noises in your house, inspect it for signs of rodent infestation.
And if you spot more than three signs, please immediately call a pest control company.
References
https://www.terminix.com/rodents/what-types-of-sounds-do-rodents-make/
