Silver Bullet Pest ControlSquirrel Stuck in the Wall: Scratching Inside the Walls
Straight answers from Silver Bullet Pest Control, a licensed exterminator based in Garfield, NJ, serving Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. Call or text 973-510-2585. Hablamos español.
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Quick answer: it probably fell in from the attic
If you hear scratching inside a wall, especially low on the wall or moving down, a squirrel may have fallen into the wall cavity from the attic and can't climb back up the smooth sides. It will try to chew out, often through the drywall into a room. Don't make a hole in the wall yourself and don't use poison. Call Silver Bullet Pest Control at 973-510-2585. We find where the squirrel is, get it out safely and seal the attic entry it came through.
How a squirrel ends up in a wall
Squirrels get into the attic through the roofline, then explore the top of the walls, where the wall cavities open into the attic. In many older North Jersey homes, especially balloon-framed houses and Cape Cods, those cavities run straight down. A squirrel slips in and can't climb back up the inside of the drywall and studs. It's even more common after the attic entry was sealed, because the squirrel is searching for any way out.
Squirrel, mouse or something else?
| Sound | Most likely |
|---|---|
| Loud scratching in one spot during the day, getting more desperate | A squirrel trapped in the wall |
| Light scurrying at night, moving around | Mice or rats (see our rodent pages) |
| Heavy thumping at night in the attic | A raccoon |
| Squeaking and rustling at dusk near the roofline | Bats |
| Buzzing or humming in a warm wall in summer | A yellow jacket nest |
What we see on these jobs
The three situations behind most of these calls in North Jersey:
Squirrels in the Attic or Walls
- Running and scratching in the morning and evening
- Chewed fascia, soffits or vents
- Nesting material in the attic
We get squirrels out with one-way doors and seal the roofline so they can't chew back in. Exclusion, not relocation.
Raccoons in the Attic or Chimney
- Heavy thumping at night
- Torn vents, shingles or soffits
- Droppings and a strong smell
Raccoons tear their way in and do real damage. We remove them from the house and close the opening with heavy-duty materials.
Chipmunks, Skunks & Other Wildlife
- Burrows along walkways and foundations
- Animals under porches and sheds
- Digging in the yard and garden
Ground animals cause foundation and yard problems. We find where they live and block access so they move on.
What not to do
- Don't cut a hole and reach in. A frightened squirrel bites hard.
- Don't use poison. It dies in the wall and the smell can last for weeks; the wall then has to be opened anyway.
- Don't seal the attic entry while you still hear it. That's how squirrels end up in walls in the first place.
How we get it out
We find the spot from the sound and the layout of the wall, and get the squirrel out with as little damage to the wall as possible, sometimes with a small controlled opening and a one-way exit to the outside. Then we deal with the attic: the roofline entry it came through gets a one-way door until any others leave, and is sealed for good after. If it already chewed through, see animal chewed through the ceiling.
If the noise stopped
Scratching that stops after a few days doesn't always mean the squirrel got out. If a bad smell starts in that room a few days later, it likely died in the wall. See smell after the hole was sealed and dead animal removal.
Simple ways to prevent it
Trim branches
Keep tree limbs about 6 to 8 feet from the roof so squirrels can't jump on.
Lock the trash
Use cans with tight lids and bungee cords. Raccoons learn trash night fast.
Cap the chimney
A sturdy chimney cap keeps out raccoons, squirrels and birds.
Check the roofline
Look for chewed soffit corners, loose vents and gaps at roof returns each spring and fall.
How Silver Bullet handles it
Call or text a photo
Tell us what you're seeing and where. A photo often lets us identify the pest right away. We answer 24/7 for emergencies.
Inspection
A licensed tech finds the source: where the pest lives, how it gets in and what draws it.
Treatment or removal
We use the right method for the pest, placed where it works and kept away from kids and pets.
Seal and prevent
We close entry points and tell you what to change so the problem doesn't come back.
Related services
Get Help From a Licensed Exterminator
Call or text 973-510-2585 for the fastest answer, or tell us what's going on and we'll get back to you quickly.
Calls we get every week
- Scratching or thumping in the attic
- A squirrel or raccoon inside the house
- A raccoon in the chimney
- Chewed soffits, vents or gutters
- Animals under a porch, deck or shed
Request Service
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know there's a squirrel in my wall?
Loud, persistent scratching in one spot during the day, often low on the wall, usually means a squirrel fell into the wall cavity.
Will a squirrel in the wall find its way out?
Sometimes, but often it can't climb back up and chews toward the room instead.
Should I open the wall myself?
No. A scared squirrel can bite, and you may open the wrong spot. Call 973-510-2585.
Can a squirrel die in the wall?
Yes, and the smell can be strong for weeks. That's a reason to act while you still hear it.
How did the squirrel get into the wall?
From the attic, where wall cavities open at the top. In many older homes the cavities run straight down.
Is it mice or a squirrel in my wall?
Mice are light and active at night; a trapped squirrel is louder and active in daylight.
Do you repair the wall afterward?
We get the squirrel out with as little damage as possible and seal the outside entry; small drywall patches are a normal repair after that.
Do you relocate squirrels?
No. We use exclusion: squirrels leave through one-way doors and the entry is sealed.
Serving North Jersey
Based in Garfield, we serve these towns and the rest of Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.
Our service area
Bergen County
973-510-2585- Allendale
- Bergenfield
- Bogota
- Carlstadt
- Cliffside Park
- Closter
- Cresskill
- Demarest
- Dumont
- East Rutherford
- Edgewater
- Elmwood Park
- Emerson
- Englewood
- Englewood Cliffs
- Fair Lawn
- Fairview
- Fort Lee
- Franklin Lakes
- Garfield
- Glen Rock
- Hackensack
- Harrington Park
- Hasbrouck Heights
- Haworth
- Hillsdale
- Ho-Ho-Kus
- Leonia
- Little Ferry
- Lodi
- Lyndhurst
- Mahwah
- Maywood
- Midland Park
- Montvale
- Moonachie
- New Milford
- North Arlington
- Northvale
- Norwood
- Oakland
- Old Tappan
- Oradell
- Palisades Park
- Paramus
- Park Ridge
- Ramsey
- Ridgefield
- Ridgefield Park
- Ridgewood
- River Edge
- River Vale
- Rochelle Park
- Rutherford
- Saddle Brook
- Saddle River
- South Hackensack
- Teaneck
- Tenafly
- Teterboro
- Upper Saddle River
- Waldwick
- Wallington
- Washington Township
- Westwood
- Woodcliff Lake
- Wood-Ridge
- Wyckoff
Passaic County
973-510-2585- Bloomingdale
- Clifton
- Haledon
- Hawthorne
- Little Falls
- North Haledon
- Passaic
- Paterson
- Pompton Lakes
- Prospect Park
- Ringwood
- Totowa
- Wanaque
- Wayne
- West Milford
- Woodland Park
Essex County
973-510-2585- Belleville
- Bloomfield
- Caldwell
- Cedar Grove
- East Orange
- Essex Fells
- Fairfield
- Glen Ridge
- Irvington
- Livingston
- Maplewood
- Millburn
- Montclair
- Newark
- North Caldwell
- Nutley
- Orange
- Roseland
- Short Hills
- South Orange
- Verona
- West Caldwell
- West Orange
Hudson County
973-510-2585Union County
973-510-2585- Berkeley Heights
- Clark
- Cranford
- Elizabeth
- Fanwood
- Garwood
- Hillside
- Kenilworth
- Linden
- Mountainside
- New Providence
- Plainfield
- Rahway
- Roselle
- Roselle Park
- Scotch Plains
- Springfield
- Summit
- Union
- Westfield
Morris County
973-510-2585- Boonton
- Butler
- Cedar Knolls
- Chatham
- Denville
- Dover
- East Hanover
- Florham Park
- Hanover
- Kinnelon
- Lincoln Park
- Madison
- Mendham
- Montville
- Morris Plains
- Morristown
- Mountain Lakes
- Parsippany
- Pequannock
- Randolph
- Riverdale
- Rockaway
- Roxbury
- Whippany
Updated November 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B