Scratching sound inside wall

[Abe]

Getting into the wall is the only way you'll be able to tell.

[Sam Alexander]

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure what this is, but over the last few nights I've heard an almost scratching sound in one of my bedroom walls. It's on outside wall that for some reason often attracts wasp nests, so could wasps getting into the wall make this sound? I know of one friend who did get wasps inside one of his walls, and they literally built a huge nest under a window seal.

What's weird is I knocked on the wall and it appeared to stop. I also went outside and only saw a few old, dead wasp nests, nothing new, but I sprayed anyway.

Do termites make this sound? What about mice or other critters? My house is on a concrete slab foundation and is about 20 years old. The wood on the outside is in good shape and painted not 2 years ago, and I don't see any disturbances outside. Also pushing on the drywall I'm not feeling any soft spots or anything odd. Also I've never seen any mice or anything like that in the 2.5 years of me living here.

Just curious. If it keeps up I'll call an exterminater or crawl in the attic myself.

Sam

[Mark & Mary Ann Weiss]

Sounds to me like you have mice or squirrels in your wall. Very familiar sound to me, as I've lived with that problem for 10+ years. Get it taken care of quickly, lest it cost you fifty grand to repair the damage. Once they open holes, and rain gets in, you'll have an unbelievable rot problem in short order. Don't ignore the noises. Deal with it before it gets expensive to fix.

[Speedy Jim]

Don't overlook carpenter ants. They make a very faint scratching sound and usually only at night.

Jim

[FlavorFlav]

Let your mother in law outta there!

[Sacramento Dave]

I had the same problem in one of my house. See if you can pinpoint the noise as close as possible. Then drill a 1/2" hole or holes in the drywall. make a small paper cone. poor small amount of decon in the wall, spackle hole. and paint. I also put some decon in the attic. This worked for me and for everyone that says the dead mouse will stink never happened. I've been told that decon dehydrates the mice they leave the house in search of water then die, Don't if that is fact

[NickySantoro]

Could well be wasps. We had yellow jackets inside the wall below the front bedroom window. Found them and the nest when I removed the window to replace it.

[Norminn]

What is in the area of wall in question.....window, blank wall? If a window or door, knock around on the moldings and baseboard in the area to see if there are hollow sounding spots....one sign of termites. Termites also, sometimes, eat the paper cover on wall board and can leave the surface with a blistery appearance. Same for chewed up wood, as they don't eat through the surface.

Your description of the sound is tough - a scratching animal would be less constant that chewing or buzzing insects. I have heard the sound of ants chewing on a butter wrapper that fell next to the trash can - one of those "what's that sound" moments when I could hear what nobody else could.

If it is a buzzing, try opening up electrical receptacles inside to dust. Check thoroughly on outside for same signs, dust openings and close them up.

If mice, you should have signs they are getting into food.

Annual termite inspections should always be made, but also read up on how to prevent them and how to find signs of infestation - mud tubes from ground to wood, wings shed around entries, droppings outside of entry tunnels, etc. Let us know :o)