The number of animal species that make noises under the sloping roof at night is manageable. The damage done is not at all and can cause enormous costs. Therefore, you should know the animals in order to be able to act quickly.
In a nutshell
- Noises in the sloping roof indicate animal visitors
- manageable number of animal species comes into question
- Difficult to determine for laypeople
- can cause great damage
- are difficult to evict
contents
- Night noises
- damage/hazards
- marten
- mice
- rats
- dormouse
- racoon
- frequently asked Questions
Night noises
If strange noises are heard from the roof at night, there is a high probability that there are animals in the attic or under the sloping roof. However, it is difficult to determine which animal inhabitant it is based on the noises. Because the nocturnal noise is rather unspecific and can be described as follows:
- tapping
- rustle
- Scratch
- gnawing sounds
Since the animals not only make noise, but can also cause great damage, you should investigate the nocturnal noises when they first appear. Because one-time guests usually quickly become permanent subtenants.
damage/hazards
The damage that uninvited guests cause at night is great and can quickly amount to several thousand euros. Typical damage associated with noises in the sloping roof or on the roof include:
- shredded material of all kinds (insulation, insulation, stored objects)
- bitten electrical lines (risk of fire)
- pollution and stench feces and urine
- ingress of rainwater. with fungal, mildew or sponge formation as a result
The main dangers come from the legacies and dead animals. Since transmission of various diseases is possible, you should
- disposal of contaminated objects and food,
- Cleaning the attic and when
- Touching traps or dead animals
Wear gloves. Keep small children out of the attic during the infestation.
marten
Martens (Martes) are excellent climbers that don't just like your car. Her appearance can be described as follows:
- head torso length: 40 to 52 centimeters
- bushy tail: 20 to 25 centimeters long
- grey-brown fur with a white throat patch
A notice: among the native marten species only the stone/house marten (Martes foina) inhabits human settlements. The pine marten (Martes martes), on the other hand, is a forest dweller.
Fight
Beech martens are subject to hunting law in this country. Therefore, the predators may only be hunted by people who have a permit to do so. The hunting season is between mid-October and late February. The specific provisions are designed differently in the federal states. For example, in some countries there are trapping regulations.
Scaring away the martens is, however, allowed. The methods should be aimed at restlessness and constant change, as this irritates the animals. This includes measures such as
- light effects
- noise effects
- minor remodeling or conversions
Closing access holes is the most effective measure. However, this should only be carried out if it can be ruled out that there are no boys in the attic. Because without their mother, the young animals are helpless and starve.
mice
Mice, more specifically the house mouse (Mus musculus) and the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), are the best known Subtenants in human dwellings, which nest in the attic or under the sloping roof.
Look
- Head-torso length: 7 to 11 centimeters
- Tail: 7 to 10 centimeters long, sparse hair
- Fur: brown gray or gray
A notice: In good conditions, the females give birth up to eight times a year. The number of young is usually between three and eight. The offspring are usually sexually mature after six weeks.
Fight
How you get rid of the uninvited occupants under the roof depends on the size of the mouse population:
- smaller populations of about ten animals: baited Snap traps, live traps (release distance: 20 kilometers)
- above: special ultrasonic devices (denatured) or exterminators
- in general: close access points
- Attic: clean and empty (remove hiding places and nooks)
rats
Of the approximately 65 rat species worldwide, only these live in the entourage of humans brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the black rat (Rattus rattus), whereby the latter is almost extinct in this country. Rats live in packs (clans). The females can give birth up to six times a year. On average, eight young are born per litter. These are sexually mature after about two months.
Look
- Head-torso length: 19 to 30 centimeters
- Tail length: 13 to 32 centimeters, hairless
- Fur: grey, grey-brown, brown
Fight
With home remedies such as smells or fall rats cannot be scared away. If you discover an infestation, professional help is not only necessary, but also mandatory in various federal states.
A notice: If you come across a rat under the roof, you should be careful. If the animal feels threatened, it can jump up to 150 centimeters.
dormouse
Edible dormouse (Glis glis) are generally considered to be cute animals. However, if the rodents nested under the roof, this image is quickly gone. If you use the attic as a nursery, the five to seven young animals rumble around there and make squeaking, whistling and murmuring noises.
A notice: Edible dormouse like to live together in small groups. They are very sedentary and often refrain from hibernating in the warm attic.
Look
- typical features: large, black eyes and rounded ears
- Head torso length: 11 to 19 centimeters
- bushy tail: 10 to 15 centimeters
- grey-brown fur
Fight
Although dormouse are not an endangered species, they are subject to special protection (Appendix 1 Federal Species Protection Ordinance). Therefore you must not be fought. exceptions, also for live traps and deterrence, issue the authorities for nature conservation and landscape conservation.
racoon
Since raccoons (Procyon lotor) forage at night, use the attic as a roost during the day. In addition, they are usually not loners, but groups of three to four animals. If females have nested, the space under the sloping roof is also a welcome place for rearing the young, which make even more noise.
Look
- Head-torso length: 40 to 70 centimeters
- Tail: 20 to 40 centimeters, bushy
- Fur: various shades of grey
- typical feature: brown to black mask over the eyes
A notice: Raccoons use a certain spot as a toilet (latrine) in the attic. This distinguishes them from the other nocturnal roof dwellers.
Fight
Raccoons are subject to hunting laws. If raccoons have nested, you must not catch the animals. To get rid of the cubs, contact your local hunting association, conservation agency, or city hunter. Unfortunately, attempts to scare the raccoon mostly fail. Odor intensive agents, such as cayenne pepper or chilli, still promise the greatest success.
frequently asked Questions
Garden dormouse are rarely found in Germany. If you have to move out, the Lower Nature Conservation Authority or the Environment Agency is responsible. If it's a weasel under the roof, the regulations in the federal states are different.
Bats are strictly protected in this country. Since they only use the roof truss as a place to sleep, they do not pose any particular dangers. Usually you will have to live with the animals for a summer.
