Common Wildlife Found in Attics in Arkansas

You hear scratching, scurrying, or thumping above your ceiling at night. Something has moved into your attic. But what is it?

In Arkansas, the answer is usually one of three animals. The wildlife most commonly found in attics in Arkansas is squirrels, raccoons, and bats. Each one leaves different clues.

In this guide, we cover the top attic invaders, the signs each one leaves, why older homes are at risk, and what to do. We see these attic calls every week across Rogers and Bentonville.

The Top 3 Attic Invaders in Arkansas

Here is how to tell the three apart by when they are active and the clues they leave.

Knowing which animal you have matters, because each one needs a different plan. A squirrel job is not the same as a bat job. That is why the first step is always a good look in the attic.

Squirrels in the Attic

Squirrels are the most common attic animal in our area. You will hear them during the day, since they are active when the sun is up. They chew to get in and to keep their teeth short.

• Fast, light scampering across the ceiling
• Gnawing or scratching on wood
• Small piles of droppings and chewed insulation

Squirrels do the most damage with their teeth. They chew wood, wires, and pipes to keep their front teeth short. Chewed wires in an attic are a real fire risk, so squirrels are far more than just a noise problem.

Squirrels are rodents, so our rodent control uses trapping plus chew-proof sealing to keep them from chewing back in.

Raccoons in the Attic

Raccoons are big and strong. They can tear open soffits, vents, and even roof shingles to get inside. They often move in during spring to have their babies, which makes removal trickier.

• Heavy, slow thumping sounds, mostly at night
• Large droppings and torn vents or insulation
• Chittering or crying sounds from babies in spring

Raccoons are also messy. They often pick one spot as a bathroom, and the droppings pile up over time. It is best to let a pro handle that cleanup, since raccoon waste can carry germs.

Because a mother may have young hidden in the attic, raccoons need careful, humane removal. See our wildlife control in Rogers, AR.

Bats in the Attic

Bats love tight, warm attic spaces and roost in groups. They are protected by state and federal law, so they need special care and good timing.

• Timing: In maternity season (about May through August), removal must wait so pups are not trapped.
• Signs: Look for droppings (guano), a musky smell, or squeaking at dusk.

Bat droppings, called guano, build up fast under a roost. Over time that pile can stain ceilings and push a strong, musky smell through the whole house.

Birds can also nest in attic vents and gaps. If that is your problem instead, our bird control can help.