Fix it
What causes scratching sounds in my attic?
Scratching overhead means something got in — and the roofline is how. Which animal it is matters less than finding the entry point, because the entry is a roof problem before it is an animal problem.
What it usually is
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Squirrels using a roofline gap
Daytime scratching, especially early morning, is the squirrel signature. They enlarge construction gaps at the fascia and roof-edge intersections, and they chew constantly once inside.
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Mice or rats along the eaves
Light, fast scratching after dark points to rodents. They enter through gaps as small as a dime where the roof deck meets the top of the walls.
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Raccoons through soffit or vent covers
Heavy, slow movement and displaced vent covers mean something large. Raccoons tear their way in at weak soffit panels and can destroy a surprising amount of insulation quickly.
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Birds or bats at ridge and gable vents
Fluttering at dawn and dusk near vents, with droppings concentrated below one spot, points up rather than along the eaves.
What you can check yourself
Log when you hear it — daytime vs night narrows the species immediately. From outside, scan the roofline for displaced vents, torn soffit panels, chew marks and greasy rub marks at gaps. In the attic, look for droppings, tunnels in insulation and daylight where none belongs.
When it’s a job for a pro
The lasting fix is exclusion: sealing every roofline entry in materials animals cannot reopen, after the animals are out. Entry repairs at fascia, soffit and vents are roof-edge work — done properly they also close the water paths those same gaps invite.
Sealing roofline entry points typically runs $300 to $1,000 depending on how many and how high; damaged soffit or vent repairs are usually $150 to $500 per location.
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