It usually starts the same way: you’re lying in bed and hear scratching, scurrying, or a heavy thump right above the ceiling. Then you start wondering what’s up there, whether it’s dangerous, and who you’re even supposed to call.
If you’re in Knoxville or East Tennessee, call a wildlife removal company, not a general pest control company. Exterminators handle insects. An animal in your attic has to be trapped or excluded, and then every gap it used to get in has to be sealed. That’s what we do at Wills Wildlife Control, and plenty of our neighbors have been in the same spot you’re in right now.
What’s Moving Around in My Attic at Night?
The time of day you hear the noise is one of the best clues:
- Heavy thumping or walking at night: usually raccoons. They’re big, strong, and nocturnal. Mothers often move into attics in spring to have their babies. See Raccoon Removal.
- Light, fast scurrying after dark: often flying squirrels. Unlike gray squirrels, they’re active all night and they live in groups, so there’s rarely just one.
- Scratching at dawn and dusk: typically gray squirrels leaving in the morning and coming back in the evening. See Squirrel Removal.
- Fluttering or squeaking around sunset: likely bats heading out to feed. See Bat Removal.
For a closer look at each animal, read our guide to wildlife commonly found in Knoxville attics.
“We suspected we had flying squirrels in our attic. Tyler came and did a thorough inspection and confirmed our suspicions… He spent several hours taking necessary steps to eliminate the problem and seal entry points.” — Debbie K., Knoxville
What to Do Tonight (and What Not to Do)
- Don’t go up there and try to chase it out. A cornered raccoon or a mother guarding babies can bite, and bats can carry rabies.
- Don’t block the hole you think it’s using. If you trap an animal inside, it will chew a new way out, sometimes into your living space.
- Don’t set out poison. An animal that dies in the attic or wall causes a smell that can last for weeks.
- Note when you hear it and where. “Over the master bedroom around 2 a.m.” helps us pin it down quickly.
- Call a wildlife removal professional. Most attic problems get worse the longer they go, because animals keep tearing up insulation, chewing wiring, and having babies.
Who Can Remove an Animal From My Attic in Knoxville?
Wills Wildlife Control is a locally owned Knoxville company run by Tyler Wills. Here’s what our customers say they got when they called:
Fast response, even when others are booked out
“While other Wildlife Control Services had a waitlist of 2-5 weeks, Tyler was able to squeeze me in early morning the next day.” — Adrianne M.
“Tyler was able to squeeze me in the same day. I was having trouble with a squirrel trying to get into the attic.” — Brenda W.
“After calling several other companies with no luck or return phone call… Showed up on a Saturday & was polite & professional & took care of our bat problem.” — Doug C.
A real inspection to find out what it is
We don’t guess. We inspect the attic and roofline, and we often set up trail cameras so we know exactly what we’re dealing with.
“We were under the impression we had a chipmunk issue. His research and surveillance showed it was squirrels that were causing the issues.” — Dave M.
“He inspected the attic, the chimney, and even went on the roof to check soffit and areas around windows.” — John C.
Getting every animal out, babies included
“We had a raccoon rip through dry wall and terrorize our home. This crew was here within 30 minutes… Additionally, he found 3 babies in our attic I would have never found.” — Ben S.
Sealing the entry points so they don’t come back
Removal is only half the job. If the entry hole stays open, the next animal moves right in.
“Had raccoons in my grandmother’s attic, Wills Wildlife Control was the first and only call i made… came out multiple days to take care of the problem and even closed the holes up so nothing would re enter.” — Sean H.
“Tyler did a great job monitoring and sealing an old entry hole in my mother’s soffit after noises were heard from the attic.” — Karen H.
“I had heard something over my bedroom and actually saw one Squirrel coming out of an eave… I feel that my house is better protected from rodent damage.” — Bronwin C.
How the Process Works
- Call or message us. Tell us what you’re hearing and when.
- Inspection. We check the attic, roofline, soffits, vents, and chimney to identify the animal and every way in.
- Removal. We use humane live traps, cameras, or one-way exclusion doors, whichever fits the animal and Tennessee law.
- Sealing and repair. We close up entry points with heavy-duty materials, including chimney caps, vent covers, and Ridge-Guard for ridge vents.
- Cleanup if needed. Droppings and soiled insulation can be removed and the area sanitized.
Hearing something in your attic tonight? Call Wills Wildlife Control and we’ll find out what it is and get it out for good.