pests in the roof

[BigLebowski]

hi there

I am trying to identify a nocturnal vibrational noise coming from the heavy horizontal oak
timber plates that support the roof rafters. They run along the eaves. My bed is a few feet from
these plates so I hear the noises each night.

The noises happen throughout each night at intervals of a few minutes. I can describe them
only as a much quieter version of my dog shaking when his coat is wet. Or a ruler being
twanged gently through a pillow! The noises move about between nights, suggesting a mobile pest.

There are about ten or so vibrations in each "set", starting relatively loud and tapering off, with
each set completing in one or two seconds. There are birds roosting in the eaves so it could be them;
but it seems an unusual noise for a bird to make, unless I suppose it is shaking its feathers, perhaps
trying to shake off parasites. I have occasionally seen bats in the roof so it could be them.
I have also had problems with rats running along and fighting on these plates, but they tend to be
a lot noisier. There are plenty of mice about.

Cheers
Dude

 

[Pford75]

Could be any of the things you mention. Suggest you look for droppings or guano...these should provide a pest expert with enough to identify the source of the problem.

NB - If it is bats, you should be aware that they are a protected species and removal will be very difficult

 

[shelli]

http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/domest.htm

this site is very useful for peskies

shelli

 

[Penners]

Just a wild guess: bats beating their wings as they come in to land under the eaves? Or taking off after crawling out under ditto?

 

[Moo]

birds roosting in the eaves;
bats in the roof;
plenty of mice about;
rats running along and fighting on these plates;
bed is a few feet from these plates.

Call me squeamish, but how do you sleep at nights?

 

[Flyfisher]

Just a wild guess: bats beating their wings as they come in to land under the eaves?

The bat that found its way into my bedroom last year flew around and around in absolute silence, eerily so.

 

[MdB]

The bat that found its way into my bedroom last year flew around and around in absolute silence, eerily so.

I had two bats chase each other around the living room the other night at high speed in and out of the window and door openings (not refitted yet). Was very impressive to watch. A previous night, one landed allowing me to get a picture before it flew off.

 

[Lime]

Bats are absolutely silent when flying they only make clicking sounds to locate things.
I don't think it is an animal making the noise directly but perhaps they are doing something that causes some kind of roof material to vibrate.
It could be bats flying out of the loft. Perhaps their roosting place vibrates as they fly off from it or they brush past something on the way out.
Perhaps it's mice jumping on and off something flexible like guttering?
it could be an owl using your aerial as a viewing perch and vibrating the aerial as it flies off. Pidgeons do that on my house.

Even inanimate objects can make odd noises.
A neighbour nearby has a tiny aerial on top of a very long pole extending above his house.
It used to be for his CB radio but the whip aerial was taken down years ago and a really small tv aerial plonked on top of it instead.
Even in a light wind the aerial catches the wind in such a that it causes the whole pole to oscillate along it's length (like a tuning fork) making a ticking sound just like a small engine or pump far off.
Perhaps it is wind blowing causing something within your roof or on your house to vibrate?

 

[middi]

It could be death watch beatles signalling to each other that it is time to procreate, (the mice and rats fight each other to get to them :wink: )

 

[Pford75]

Noise
Problems of noise can occur occasionally; if they do, then specialist advice may be needed. Large colonies of pipistrelles can be noisy during the summer, especially if they are within the wall of a bedroom. While this may last for only a short time it can be disturbing - Scottish Natural Heritage can advise on possible solutions that will help both you and the bats.

http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/wildlife/batsandpeople/buildings.asp


Bats may fly silently, but I can speak from personal experience that they can make considerable noise when roosting....sounds rather like a group of birds flapping their wings

 

[BigLebowski]

hi, thanks for your responses.

I don't think it's the right time for DWBs to do their mating calls. It's a bit late.
I think instead it must be bats or birds doing the rumba.

Dude

 

[Penners]

hi, thanks for your responses.

I don't think it's the right time for DWBs to do their mating calls.

Jaqy - can you confirm?! :wink:

 

[DaveBrigg]

We have had a variety of birds in the eaves, and the sounds don't match what you have described. There is a clear scrabbling sound of their feet on the ceiling, and with careful listening, occasional cheeping. The sounds occur mainly just after sunset, and rarely later at night (unless I sleep through it). It was my understanding that birds and mammals are less regular in their behaviour, and so unlikely to produce such a regular pattern of noises through the night.

 

[Schoolmarm]

I suspect it is the gnawing of wood or something by a rodent. Amplified or transmitted strangely to your ears. They need sorting ASAP.

 

[Penners]

I suspect it is the gnawing of wood or something by a rodent. Amplified or transmitted strangely to your ears.

Clearly these rodents are not unfamiliar with advanced electronics. :wink: