When a quiet evening is disrupted by an unexpected sound from within your walls or ceiling, it often sparks curiosity about its source. These mysterious noises, though faint, can be surprisingly distinct, indicating the presence of a small, active creature. While many possibilities exist, mice are frequently the culprits behind such nighttime disturbances, making a variety of sounds as they navigate their environment.
Common Noises Made by Mice
Mice are nocturnal, with peak activity after sunset and before sunrise, making their sounds more noticeable in quiet homes. Homeowners commonly report hearing distinct scratching and scurrying sounds, which are light and quick as mice move along surfaces or within confined spaces like walls and ceilings. These noises result from their small claws gripping surfaces as they travel and explore, or when they gather materials for nesting.
Another identifiable sound is gnawing or chewing, which mice produce consistently due to their continuously growing teeth. They must chew on various materials to keep their teeth at a manageable length, resulting in repetitive, high-pitched sounds as they work through wood, plastic, or even electrical wires. Beyond these physical noises, mice also vocalize through squeaking and chattering. These high-pitched sounds can vary in frequency and volume, and while sometimes faint, they are audible signals of mouse presence.
The Meaning Behind the Squeaks and Scratches
Mice produce vocalizations like squeaks as a form of communication within their social groups. These high-pitched sounds can convey various messages, such as signaling danger, expressing distress, indicating the location of food or shelter, or during mating interactions. Male mice emit intricate vocal patterns during courtship, and pups squeak when separated from their mother to prompt retrieval.
A substantial portion of mouse communication occurs through ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), which are sound frequencies above the human hearing range (30-120 kHz). Humans cannot detect these sounds without specialized equipment, but mice use them for social interactions, territorial marking, and communication between mothers and their young. The physical sounds of scratching and gnawing, however, are not communicative signals but byproducts of their survival activities. These noises indicate actions like exploring new areas, creating pathways, building nests from insulation or other soft materials, and maintaining their dental health.
Sounds of Other Household Pests
Distinguishing mouse sounds from other household pests can help identify an infestation. Rats produce sounds similar to mice, but their larger size results in heavier thuds and louder scratching or gnawing. Rats also make hissing, chattering, squeaking, and sometimes a distinct tooth-grinding noise known as bruxism.
Squirrels are often mistaken for mice, but their sounds are louder and more pronounced. Their scampering and scratching are heavier, and they are primarily active during the daytime, unlike nocturnal mice. Squirrels may also produce chattering or chirping vocalizations and the sound of nuts rolling in attics.
Raccoons, being larger, create heavy thumps and loud vocalizations like growls, chitters, squealing, or whining, especially if young kits are present. These sounds are more impactful than those made by smaller rodents.
Insects like carpenter ants can create sounds within walls, though they are quieter and different. These sounds are often described as faint rustling, crinkling like cellophane or paper, quiet crackling, or soft chewing. These subtle noises come from the ants’ mandibles clicking as they excavate wood or their legs moving against surfaces within their galleries.