They can climb pretty much anything even a bare wall.
Roof rat sounds.
Smudges on surfaces from the pests oily fur.
You might hear scratching and gnawing as they crawl around or chew on your walls and wires.
If you hear scratching sounds in the attic it s because roof rats like to create nests.
Most people describe it as a whistling noise that occurs alongside their rat s breathing.
Remnants of nests in attics cabinets and other areas above the ground.
Gnaw marks on wood trim wires and other household items.
Signs of roof rats around the house include.
Rats on the roof is never a good sign and while they may not be as noisy or as easy to spot as raccoons or larger animals spotting a rat on the roof is definitely a sign to be concerned about.
You can also hear running and scratching sounds as they go about your business in your attic or ceiling.
How to catch a rat in the attic.
You could also hear a scurrying noise as they move quickly across your attic.
While they nest in the attic they get food and water from outside so they leave and re enter the attic throughout the night which can create noise in certain areas.
The noise can sound light or it can actually sound surprisingly loud.
Getting rid of the animals can be quite a challenge particularly if the roof and the attic space inside is difficult or awkward to get to but it is.
Chirps and squeaks are also common in mice but rats usually communicate at a pitch that humans cannot hear.
Wheezing is a common sound you might hear if your rat has the start of an upper respiratory infection or is experiencing a mycoplasma attack.
If wheezing is the result of mycoplasma it should go away on its own within 48 hours.