It usually starts with something small. Maybe a faint scratching behind the walls, or the sound of tiny feet racing across your attic just before sunrise. Many Anoka homeowners and property managers brush it off as “house noises,” until one day they discover chewed insulation, droppings, or even wiring damage. By then, the squirrels have already made themselves at home.
Hearing Scratching in Your Attic? You’re Not Alone. It often starts with a faint scratching in the walls or the sound of quick footsteps across the ceiling early in the morning. At first, you hope it’s nothing—but as the noise grows more consistent, you begin to suspect you may have an unwelcome visitor. For many Minnesota homeowners, that visitor is a squirrel looking for warmth, food, and a place to nest.
These clever animals can squeeze through gaps you’d never notice, and once they’re inside, the damage can add up quickly. That’s why professional sealing and exclusion are the most reliable ways to stop squirrels from returning.
A Small Noise That Turned Into a Big Problem. Last winter, a Maplewood homeowner heard what sounded like a faint scratching behind her kitchen cabinets. She brushed it off—probably just the wind, she thought. A few weeks later, she noticed small chew marks near the pantry, then droppings, and finally a musty odor in the basement. By the time she called for help, mice had chewed through insulation, gnawed electrical wiring, and contaminated storage areas. What began as a minor nuisance
A scratching sound you can’t ignore. It usually starts late at night, a faint scratching or scurrying behind the drywall. At first, you might brush it off as your imagination, but as days go by, the sound grows more frequent. Homeowners and property managers across Minnesota know that this unsettling noise often means one thing: mice have found a way inside your home and into your walls. These tiny invaders don’t just create noise, they cause real damage and health risks if left unchecked. They also have 5 or more litters in one year.
Animals typically do not migrate south for winter, unlike birds. Even though they can be nuisances during warmer months, wild animals also have the potential to cause serious damage to buildings and property during colder temperatures. To determine if animals have entered your home in search of warmth, it’s essential that you know what signs to look out for so you can prevent an invasion from taking place.
Squirrels: Squirrels are active all year. They store food such as grains, nuts, seeds and berries in order to stay stationary until they run out of food – at which point they move elsewhere.
Squirrels don’t hibernate in the winter, but they still need a warm, safe place to sleep. And when it’s severely cold out, they’ll stay in their cozy den for days at a time, only venturing out midday when temperatures are warmest. If you’ve heard any scurrying or squeaking coming from your attic or walls, that cozy den just might be your home. If you’re in the Minneapolis area and you think you might
