One of the most common calls we get from Theale residents starts the same way: loud scratching, running or thumping noises coming from the loft, but only during the day. That timing detail is actually the most useful clue in working out what's up there, because most other common loft pests are far more active at night.
Why daytime noise points to squirrels
Grey squirrels are diurnal, meaning they're active during daylight hours and rest at night - the opposite pattern to rats and mice, which tend to be most active after dark. If the noise in your Theale loft is consistently loudest in the early morning and again in the late afternoon, with quiet overnight, squirrels are a strong possibility.
What the noise actually sounds like
- Heavy scurrying or running, sometimes seeming to move quickly across the ceiling
- Scratching or scraping, often near the roof edge or a specific corner
- Thumping or bumping, particularly if young squirrels are present and moving around
- A rolling or dragging sound, which can be insulation or debris being pulled around for nesting
Ruling out other possibilities
Birds nesting in a roof space tend to produce lighter fluttering and chirping, mainly at dawn. Rats and mice are typically nocturnal and their movement is generally lighter and quicker, though a large rat population can still be noisy. Bats are protected and generally very quiet, with activity concentrated around dusk and dawn as they leave and return to roost. None of these match the pattern of loud, sustained daytime activity as consistently as squirrels do.
Why correct identification matters
Different loft-dwelling species require different approaches, and in the UK several - including bats and, to an extent, squirrels - are subject to specific legal protections around how they can be handled. Correctly identifying what's actually in the roof space before any action is taken isn't just about efficiency, it's about making sure the response is appropriate and lawful.
If you're hearing daytime noise in your Theale loft and want a proper identification rather than a guess, contact Pest Services Berkshire for a free quotation. We'll confirm exactly what's up there and recommend the right course of action.
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