Scratching in the Walls or Ceiling at Night?

Scratching or scurrying in your walls and ceiling after dark almost always means rodents. Rats and mice are nocturnal, so noise that starts at night and moves along wall cavities or overhead is the classic sign of an active infestation in a Whidbey or Fidalgo home.

What’s most likely going on

Roof rats travel wall voids and attics, mice nest inside walls and cabinets, and Norway rats work lower in crawl spaces. The direction and height of the sound helps identify which — overhead usually means roof rats, low and in the floor usually means mice or Norway rats.

What it means for your home

Rodents gnaw wiring (a fire risk), pull apart insulation to nest, and contaminate the space with droppings and urine. A pair becomes a population fast, so early action matters.

What to do next

Do not just set a few traps and wait — the entry point is what matters. We inspect, remove the rodents, and seal how they are getting in. You can read more in our Pest Library entry on roof rats, or head straight to our Rodent Control service.

Frequently asked questions

Is it rats or mice?

Overhead, climbing noises usually point to roof rats; low, in-the-wall sounds are often mice. An inspection confirms the species and the entry points.

Will the noise stop on its own?

Rarely. Rodents are establishing a nest, and the population grows until the entry is sealed and they are removed.

Not sure what you’re dealing with? Call (360) 206-3293 for a free estimate over the phone, or browse the full Pest Library.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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Prompt, efficient and on-time service. Invoices provide written and visual information of service rendered. Mathew is very professional and knowledgeable.  Would recommend Salty Dog services.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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We really like Salty Dog!  Matthew is very responsive and always on time.  His reports are thorough, he is on time and works with our needs!  Thank you Matthew!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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Matthew is conscientious and careful. He has worked closely with us to address all of our concerns. He has tailored his efforts to the unique demands of our house as he performed an exclusion. The rodent activity has disappeared inside the house and has been vastly reduced outside. We are very happy with his work.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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Matthew solved our mouse problem! He quickly identified their entrance point and blocked it. That was last year. We haven't had a problem since. Thank you, Matthew!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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We had not done pest control for quite some time, (our bad) and one day I needed service right away.   Matthew came ASAP and got us started on the right track.  He did work above and beyond what I expected for a more than fair price and shows up for scheduled maintenance as promised.   He does a great job and I recommend him highly.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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Matt at Salty Dog is both personal and professional, and provides services that are high quality, and very reasonably priced. He is clearly a service provider first and last. I've had previous experiences(with pest services and other) with national companies, when I felt I was sent a representative that was sales first, service provider 2nd. Matt is also well networked with contractors in our community, and gave me a couple great referrals for other work I needed done. The bottom line is that I highly recommend Salty Dog and Matt for any rodent/pest related issues.
  
 
  
 
 
 
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Extremely helpful and quick service who took his time and treated the issues that I had on the spot. I absolutely felt like the work was quality and he did not rush until I was satisfied with what was done. Thank you very much for the help!
  
 
  
 
 
 
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We’ve had an excellent experience with Salty Dog Pest Control. Matt’s attention to detail is outstanding, and what really sets him apart is his passion for treating the root of the problem—not just applying a quick fix. He took the time to explain what was going on, what he was doing, and why, which gave us a lot of confidence in the process.

His communication is clear, timely, and thoughtful from start to finish. It’s obvious he truly cares about his work and his clients. Highly recommend Salty Dog Pest Control if you’re looking for someone knowledgeable, thorough, and genuinely invested in doing the job right.