One of the most common calls we get from residents across Maidenhead starts the same way: something is moving around in my loft, and I don't know what it is. Sound alone won't tell you for certain what species you're dealing with, but squirrels have a fairly distinctive noise pattern once you know what to listen for.
What Squirrels Typically Sound Like
- Heavy scampering or galloping footsteps, often moving in a fairly straight line along a joist rather than pattering randomly.
- A rolling or bowling-ball sound, caused by nuts, acorns or debris being pushed or carried across the loft floor.
- Sharp, rhythmic gnawing on timber, usually in short bursts rather than continuous chewing.
- Scratching close to the eaves or soffits, often at the point where a squirrel is entering or leaving.
- Occasional sharp chattering or barking calls, particularly if more than one squirrel is present or a territorial dispute is happening near the roof.
Timing Is the Biggest Clue
Squirrels are strictly daytime animals. If the noise is happening from first light through to dusk and stops completely overnight, that points strongly toward squirrels rather than rats, which are typically nocturnal, or bats, which are active around dusk and dawn but much lighter and quieter. Noise concentrated in the very early morning and late afternoon, when squirrels are most active foraging and returning to the nest, is a classic pattern.
Squirrels vs Rats vs Birds: A Quick Comparison
- Squirrels: daytime, heavier movement, rolling and carrying sounds, sharp gnawing bursts.
- Rats: mostly night-time, lighter scurrying, gnawing tends to be more continuous and closer to wall cavities.
- Birds under tiles or in soffits: brief activity around dawn, fluttering and chirping rather than scratching or gnawing.
- Bats: dusk and dawn, very light rustling with almost no gnawing, since bats don't chew structural timber.
If you're still unsure after listening over a day or two, that's normal — sound identification is a starting point, not a diagnosis. A proper inspection of the loft and roofline is the only way to confirm what's actually up there and how it's getting in.
If you've been hearing daytime movement in the roof of your Maidenhead home, get in touch with Pest Services Berkshire for a free inspection. We'll identify what's causing it and explain exactly what needs to happen next.
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