When the cold sets in, it’s not just mice looking for a warm spot. Every winter I get calls about thumping in the attic, scratching in the walls at dawn and something living under the deck. In South Jersey, with our mix of woods, farm fields and older homes, raccoons, squirrels and bats all find their way into houses. Here’s how to tell who’s moved in, what New Jersey’s rules say about bats, and what to do about it.
Who’s Making That Noise?
The time of day and the sound give you good clues:
- Squirrels are active during the day, especially early morning and late afternoon. Think quick scurrying, rolling or chewing sounds in the attic or walls.
- Raccoons are mostly active at night and they’re heavy. You’ll hear thumping, walking and sometimes chattering or growling, often in the attic or a chimney.
- Mice make light scratching and scurrying sounds, mostly at night, in walls and ceilings.
- Bats are usually quiet. You might hear faint squeaking or rustling at dusk, or notice droppings building up under an attic vent or gable.
Outside, look for torn or pushed-in soffits, chewed vent covers, gaps at the roofline, a damaged chimney cap or loose siding.
Raccoons: Keep Your Distance
Raccoons are smart, strong and can do a lot of damage to roof vents, soffits and insulation. There’s also a health side to it. According to the NJ Department of Health, among wild animals, raccoons are the most often positive for rabies in New Jersey. NJDOH advises contacting your local animal control about suspicious animals around or in the house.
My advice: never corner a raccoon, never try to grab one, and keep pets away. If an animal is acting strangely, like wandering in daylight, stumbling or acting aggressive, call animal control. If you or a pet may have been bitten or scratched, contact your doctor or vet and your local health department right away.
Squirrels: Small Teeth, Big Damage
Squirrels chew. Once they’re in an attic, they’ll chew on wood, insulation and sometimes wiring. They usually get in through a gap at the roofline or a weak spot in a soffit or vent, and they’ll widen it as they go. The fix is finding every entry point and closing it properly, while making sure nobody gets sealed inside.
Bats: New Jersey Has Rules for This
Bats need special care, and this is where a lot of people get it wrong. According to the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, New Jersey’s native nongame wildlife, which includes our bats, is protected under the state’s Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act. Their bat guidelines are clear:
- No lethal means should be used for any bats.
- No glue boards or fly paper where bats are likely to come in contact with them.
- Timing matters. NJ Fish and Wildlife says bats shouldn’t be excluded from a roost during the summer nursery season, which runs through July 31, because the young can’t fly yet and would be trapped. A second restriction runs from October 16 through March 31 to protect bats that overwinter in buildings, which is especially common with big brown bats.
NJ Fish and Wildlife also notes that possible bat entry points into your living space can be sealed at any time of year, as long as it doesn’t trap bats or shut them out of their roost during a restricted period. So if you’ve got bats in the attic this winter, the right move is usually to keep them out of the living area now and plan the full exclusion for an allowed window.
What about rabies? NJDOH says fewer than 1% of bats carry rabies in New Jersey. But if you wake up to find a bat flying in the room where someone was sleeping, NJ Fish and Wildlife’s guidelines say the health department may recommend treatment, so call your local health department for advice before you let the bat go.
What You Can Do Now
- Walk around the house and look up. Check soffits, roof vents, gable vents and the chimney cap.
- Trim back tree limbs that hang over or touch the roof.
- Keep trash cans tightly lidded and don’t leave pet food outside.
- Close off spaces under decks and sheds once you’re sure nothing is living there.
- Don’t seal a hole until you know the animal is out. Trapping an animal inside makes things much worse.
How I Handle Wildlife Calls
I start with a thorough inspection to figure out what’s getting in and where, then put together a plan to get the animals out and close up the entry points so they don’t come back. With bats, I follow NJ Fish and Wildlife’s guidelines and timing. You can read more on our wildlife removal page. And if the culprit turns out to be mice, our rodent control page has you covered.
Hearing Things in the Attic?
Call me at 856-599-9376, Monday through Saturday, 8 to 6. Zero Pests is veteran-owned and serves Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland counties, including Bridgeton and Salem. NJ license #92354B.
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