# I thought squirrels were supposed to be diurnal. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 13, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-squirrels-were-supposed-to-be-diurnal/668739 "2013-09-13T02:48:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-squirrels-were-supposed-to-be-diurnal/668739/1 "2013-09-13T02:48:14Z")
In spite of all the work we have had done on our house in the past couple of years, a squirrel has found his way into our attic. More specifically, he is living in the part of the attic floor that is also my bedroom ceiling. He is not quiet. He does not sleep at night. Last night I had squirrel dreams. Right now I am in bed and he is running around like a lunatic. He must go. In the meantime, I am calling him Marvin. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-squirrels-were-supposed-to-be-diurnal/668739/2 "2013-09-13T03:09:27Z")
You sure it isn’t rats? Squirrels would need an obvious hole in the soffit or roof to get in. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-squirrels-were-supposed-to-be-diurnal/668739/3 "2013-09-13T03:55:10Z")
It could be both. While you wait to find out, you could read [this](http://www.dagonbytes.com/thelibrary/lovecraft/theratsinthewalls.htm). (Scroll down a bit to get to the text.) ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-squirrels-were-supposed-to-be-diurnal/668739/4 "2013-09-13T09:26:43Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > You sure it isn’t rats? Squirrels would need an obvious hole in the soffit or roof to get in. No, I saw him come in once, but not from an angle where I could see how he did it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-squirrels-were-supposed-to-be-diurnal/668739/5 "2013-09-13T13:00:28Z")
During the day, especially early morning or late afternoon, he’s probably going to be out foraging so that would be the best time to find his entrance and seal it off. As you know they need to gnaw on items to keep their teeth ground down and sharp and this can lead to damage that might invite in rain or, if it’s the insulation on wiring, it could create a fire hazard. I’ve had to trap them before and they do seem pretty fond of peanut butter, so that’s my bait of choice. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-squirrels-were-supposed-to-be-diurnal/668739/6 "2013-09-13T14:18:37Z")
they enlarge cavities and holes as passage ways or nests. you have to no only plug the hole they went through but also keep them from spots they can hang in to while they chew. also remove or put barriers on the paths they used to get to that spot. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-squirrels-were-supposed-to-be-diurnal/668739/7 "2013-09-13T15:10:14Z")
We used to have problems with squirrels in our roof too, but after many years of exterminating them (safely and humanely, not killing them) we finally got the roof fixed. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-squirrels-were-supposed-to-be-diurnal/668739/8 "2013-09-13T21:35:02Z")
> **[Photobucket | Make your memories fun!](https://s1135.photobucket.com/user/Dottie_Cat/media/Random/20130913_171452_zps2eae3b19.jpg.html)** > > Make your memories fun! Well, I have found a hole that needs patching. It’s hard to see, but there are three squirrels there, all young. No wonder they make such a racket! I hate to kick them out. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-squirrels-were-supposed-to-be-diurnal/668739/9 "2013-09-14T04:12:38Z")
Maybe they’re flying squirrels, which love attics, are smaller than regular squirrels, and are nocturnal. Well, I looked at the picture after I said that- regular ones they are. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-squirrels-were-supposed-to-be-diurnal/668739/10 "2013-09-14T12:39:12Z")
Wait till they go off to college and then make over their room.