Rodent articles · Updated
Rat or squirrel in the attic? How to tell the difference
Rats run at night and squirrels at dawn and dusk. Rat droppings are about half an inch and pointed or blunt. Squirrel droppings are larger and rounder. Squirrels chew bigger, rougher holes at the roofline and build leaf nests.
Timing is the quickest tell. Roof rats are active at night, so noise after dark and before dawn points to rats. Squirrels are day animals, so noise that starts at first light and again in the late afternoon points to squirrels. Droppings, entry holes and nests confirm it.
It matters because the fix is different. This line handles rats, mice and pack rats. For squirrels, call a wildlife removal company.
When you hear it
Roof rats leave the attic after dark to feed and come back before dawn, with more running around in between. Squirrels leave in the morning, come and go during the day, and settle in before dark. If the attic is quiet at 2 a.m. and busy at 7 a.m., think squirrel. If it's the other way around, think rat.
What it sounds like
Rats make quick scurrying and scratching sounds, with gnawing now and then. Squirrels are heavier and bouncier, with thumps, rolling sounds like a nut on the floor, and louder scratching. Neither is always easy to tell apart by sound alone, so check the timing and the evidence. Our noises at night article has more on sounds.
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Droppings
Roof rat droppings are about half an inch long and slim, with pointed ends, scattered along the top plates and ductwork. Squirrel droppings are larger and rounder, and they're often grouped in one area. See rat vs mouse droppings for a closer look at rodent droppings.
Entry holes
Roof rats squeeze through small gaps at soffit corners, roof joints and vents, often openings you'd never notice from the ground. Squirrels make bigger, ragged holes, often chewed into fascia boards, soffits or the corners of the roof. You can sometimes see a squirrel hole from the yard. A roof rat gap usually takes a ladder to spot.
Nests and damage
Squirrels build nests of leaves and twigs and tend to make a mess of insulation near their entry hole. Roof rats nest in the insulation itself, leave trails pressed into it, and leave greasy rub marks on rafters and beams along their routes. Both chew wiring and duct.
Tracks, rub marks and runways
Roof rats travel the same paths every night and leave dark, greasy rub marks on rafters, beams and the edges of holes where their fur brushes the wood. Look along the top plates and where pipes or wires enter the attic. Squirrels don't leave those smudges the same way. In dusty attics you may also see small tracks along the framing. Rat tracks show a long tail drag between the footprints in deep dust.
Why San Antonio attics often have both
Fox squirrels are common in San Antonio's older neighborhoods, in the same big pecans and live oaks that roof rats use. A squirrel can chew open a hole in the fascia, and once it's there, roof rats use it too. That's why one attic can have both kinds of droppings, and why the hole a wildlife company closes up should be checked again for smaller gaps nearby.
What to do in the meantime
Note when you hear the noise for a few days, and look in the attic during the day for droppings and nests. Trim limbs back from the roof. Don't seal any hole until you know whether an animal is inside, since sealing an animal in causes a bigger problem. If it's rats, set snap traps along the top plates. If it's squirrels, call a wildlife company that handles them.
What a technician checks to be sure
When the timing and droppings aren't clear, a technician checks the roofline for the size and shape of the entry holes, looks for rub marks along the framing, and looks at what's in the nests. They may set a few traps to see what's caught. If it turns out to be squirrels, they'll tell you to call a wildlife company. If it's rats, the next step is trapping and sealing. See rodent inspection. Tell the technician about any noise patterns you've noted, since timing is often the deciding clue.
Who to call
For roof rats, a rodent technician traps in the attic and seals the roofline. See roof rat control. For squirrels, call a wildlife removal company that handles them. In San Antonio, both often use the same big oaks and pecans to reach the roof, so trimming limbs back helps with either one.
Ready to have the gaps found and sealed? Call and describe what you're seeing.
Call (210) 955-2948
Questions from callers
Can I have both rats and squirrels?
Yes. They use the same trees to reach the roof. A gap a squirrel chewed open can also let rats in.
Do you handle squirrels?
No. This line is rats, mice and pack rats only. Call a wildlife removal company for squirrels.
I see an animal on the roof in daylight. What is it?
Most likely a squirrel. Roof rats are rarely out in daylight unless something has disturbed them or the colony has grown crowded. A rat seen by day is a sign to call soon.
Are squirrels or rats worse in an attic?
Both chew wiring and leave droppings. Rats tend to spread through more of the attic, and squirrels tend to do more damage at the entry hole. Either one is worth dealing with quickly.