If you hear the telltale sound of skittering, squeaking, scratching or buzzing coming from inside your walls, it may very well be exactly what you think it is—an unexpected house guest. From raccoons, mice and squirrels to birds, bees, and the dreaded rat, these critters can become unwanted tenants in our homes.
All buildings occasionally make sounds like creaking, clanking, or groaning. However, if you're hearing squeaks, cheeps, and squeals coming from the walls of your home or business, you may not be dealing with everyday building noises—you may have rodents settling in to enjoy the warmth and safety of your walls.
Tinnitus is the name for these head noises, and they are very common. Nearly 36 million other Americans suffer from this discomfort. Tinnitus may come and go, or you may be aware of a continuous sound. It can vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal or whine and you may hear it in one or both ears.
Shrill squeaks are often indicative of rats or mice, and sharper 'shrieks' may indicate infestation. Raccoons are known to produce squealing, chattering, and growling sounds, especially when they have kits (babies). Lastly, bats will chirp at night or in the morning before sunrise.
The many materials that make up your house — wood framing, plywood, glass, metal ducts, nails, plumbing pipes — all expand and contract at different rates. When a house cools at night, these materials may move slightly, rubbing against each other and making noises.
Homes often make strange noises. They're built of many different materials—glass, concrete, wood—that expand and contract at different rates, causing friction that results in those odd spooky sounds.
The first signs of mice that many people notice are mouse noises within walls or under the floorboards. They scratch and claw away at wooden surfaces and plasterboards, which makes a distinctive rustling sound.
Intermittent beeps and chirps in your home may come from smoke or CO alarms that need your attention. Sometimes, other appliances in the home can cause a chirp as well.
Identify the Source
There are three main possible sources for the noises you are hearing: the mattress itself, the box spring, or the bed frame/foundation. All-foam mattresses will not cause squeaking, so if you have one, it's safe to assume the noise is coming from the foundation.
If you have a bird stuck in your wall, you might hear flapping as well as chirping sounds in combination with the scratching noises. They'll make quite the commotion trying to get lose. Birds are diurnal—they're active during the day.
Research on mouse vocalization has mainly focused on ultrasonic vocalization (USV). However, additional to these sounds that are inaudible for humans, mice also emit squeaks and squeals that are well within the human hearing range.
Scratching sounds often point to a pest or wild animal problem. Dripping noises can come from HVAC or plumbing systems. Many toilet-related sounds can come from overfilling or issues with pipes. Knocking or whistling windows indicate worn weather stripping or other repair needs.
Auditory hallucinations are often associated with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions, but they can happen for several other reasons, such as hearing loss, and aren't always a sign of a mental health condition.
You are most likely to hear rats moving as opposed to vocalizations. Mice typically squeak but almost all of the rat sounds are ultrasonic(Opens in a new window). Rats make noises like squeaks, chirps, and hisses sound.
Rats emit high-pitched squeaks and chirps to communicate with one another. They can convey various messages, from warnings to friendly greetings. Sometimes, these sounds can be ultrasonic, meaning they are beyond the range of human hearing.
Rats are active and vocal at night, making a variety of noises. These noises can range from loud, high-pitched squeaks to soft, low-pitched chatters.
Summary. Hearing voices at night is not uncommon. While it can be a sign of a mental health condition such as schizophrenia, it is also seen when sleep is disrupted, after stress or trauma, or with certain medications or medical conditions.
When you're able to feel the springs in your mattress, it's a huge telltale sign that your mattress is on it's way out. It's possible to try and alleviate the problem by using a mattress topper, such as a memory foam one, but these will not always 100% fix the problem.
Many nocturnal animals chirp at night. Numerous species of frogs and toads emit a chirping mating call. Both northern and southern flying squirrels use chirps at night, to communicate to their social groups. Geckos are the most vocal reptiles.
If you hear a noise that sounds like someone breaking in or moving around, quietly call the police and wait calmly until they arrive. If you can leave safely, do so. Otherwise, lock yourself in a room, or, if the intruder enters the room you are in, pretend to be asleep.
Rats and rodents in general are very sensitive to sound, since it's one of their main tools for survival. Any new or unexpected noise will frighten them and send them scurrying. However, once rodents get used to a sound, they will no longer fear it.
Improperly installed windows, worn weather stripping, changes in temperature and the simple passage of time can all cause an unwanted whistling inside the house. Not only is the sound annoying, it can also lead to energy waste.
Hearing scratching or noises in the walls is one of the many signs of having rodents living in your walls. Keep in mind that the timing of the sounds could help you figure out what sort of critters you're dealing with or if it's just a tree limb rubbing against the house on a windy day or night.
In a silence where some people could hear a pin drop, people with tinnitus hear a constant ringing in their ears. Or the sound may be a buzzing, rushing, pinging, clicking, whistling, or roaring. Some people describe it as a freight train constantly rolling through their brains.