What runs around and squeaks?

[Ian@1904]

I know this sounds a bit daft...but we can hear something running around in the ceiling above our ground floor. It also squeaks.
So, rat, mouse, bat, tramp, or pikey?

Very animated
BTW. We live in the countryside. So not totally unexpected.

[Pigpen]

Ian

My money's on rat, but it could be any of them!

[angleseydiver]

Whatever ours was stopped squeaking and rattling the floorboards about a month ago, ther've been a lot of bluebottles around for the time of year... don't use poison, try to trap the tw*t(s)!

[Kalahari Diver]

It could also be a squirrel so trapping may be best.
David.

[divingniknaks]

Most likely to be a mouse I would say, Rats tend to be quiet, bats you wouldn't know you had IMHO.

When I had the farm, about this time of year I used to get sick of picking the buggers out of the veg cupboard in the morning. VERY fat and happy, till they went in the rain water butt

As you say not unexpected given your location, the little darlings need warmth after all.

TRAP TIME

.

[angleseydiver]

Yes! Trapping and killing! With much pain!
Seriously, though, Ian, if you want to know the size of the beast leave a few "selected" items around... if a grape disappears it's a rat, mouse or squirrel, if a brazil-nut disappears it's a rat or a squirrell, if a wagon-wheel disappears it's a rat! It's great to be smarter than vermin!

[ardhill]

Don't know about squirrels, but both Rats and Mice squeak and both can sound like a Labrador running about in your roof space.

Funny, I also have a lot of Bluebottles for this time of year, but still have rat noises in a flat roof that I can't get into to trap it.

A trap is the way to go Ian. You can get conventional ones and electronic ones that electrocute them from eBay. I understand those electronic sonic noise things are pants though.

[Hazel W]

mice squeek ... rats sound like they are gnawing the house down .... squirrels just electocute themselves ...and they all sound like tey are tapdancing up and down the walls just when you are trying to go to sleep ........ most modern poisons are effective and dry out the corpse so it dosnt smell however traps are better for the bluebottle reason alternativly have some cats around

H

[Ian@1904]

We have had field mice in the loft before, that is fairly common here. A neighbour has bats. But this scuttler is between our ground and first floor. Placing a trap will probably mean lifting some floorboards.
We have squirrels also, but they don't usually come to our garden and I did not think they were active at night.
There is a potential rodent route into the space through the garage. I know mice can climb walls, not seen it with rats though.

[Freeflow]

Could be Purple Vonnys shrew-it was nicking her kit, so it might be after yours now.