Are Squirrels Active at Night in Attics?
Gray and fox squirrels are not usually active at night. They’re daytime animals that do most of their moving and feeding early in the morning and late in the afternoon, then settle into the nest after dark. The exception is the southern flying squirrel, which is nocturnal. If you’re hearing noise in the attic in the middle of the night, it’s either a flying squirrel or a different animal altogether.
When Gray and Fox Squirrels Make Noise
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s guide to Texas squirrels notes that squirrels do most of their feeding in the early morning and late in the day. In an attic, that usually means scratching and running around sunrise as they head out, a quiet stretch during the day while they forage, and more activity late in the afternoon as they come back in.
Flying Squirrels Are the Night Shift
Southern flying squirrels are small, nocturnal squirrels found in wooded areas across the eastern part of Texas. Texas Tech University’s Mammals of Texas account of the southern flying squirrel notes they’ll use almost any cavity that’s dry and large enough, and that they tend to live together in groups. An attic fits that description, so nighttime scurrying from more than one animal can point to flying squirrels.
Other Animals That Make Noise at Night
Night noise in an attic is just as likely to be something other than a squirrel. Roof rats and raccoons are both active at night, and the right fix for each is different. Our roof rat removal process, for example, is built around a different animal and different entry points than squirrel work. Multiple animals can also be in the same attic at once, so the animal you hear isn’t always the only one up there.
Owner Mike Garrett reads the signs in the attic itself. On dusty ductwork, raccoons leave full footprints, squirrels leave little toe prints and rats leave tick marks. The width of the trails running through attic insulation helps tell them apart too.
How We Handle It
The Critter Team provides squirrel removal services that start with figuring out exactly what’s in the attic. We ask when you’re hearing the noise and where, then inspect the house outside and in before setting a single trap, because the trapping, sealing and cleanup all depend on getting the animal right.
So Are Squirrels Active at Night in Attics?
Gray and fox squirrels are mostly active in the early morning and late afternoon, not at night. Southern flying squirrels are the exception, since they’re nocturnal and will move into a dry attic. Night noise can also mean roof rats or raccoons, so the timing of the sounds is a useful clue, and an inspection is how you find out for sure.