# There's something dying on my attic steps. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 28, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118 "2009-03-28T20:45:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/21 "2009-03-31T03:31:56Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Although only vaguely related: > > I thought of this thread last night around two when I was awakened by a very odd noise from outside. It kind of sounded like a human scream - but _not quite_. It came in short bursts and went on, over and over. It really weirded me out. > > I worked up the courage to go outside and investigate and now -without walls to mask the sound - it sounded a little more canine. Kind of like the noise a hound dog makes when it is trailing something, but again _not quite_. Much shorter bursts. > > I whistled several times, thinking that perhaps some poor dog was injured or just simply out in the cold, but when I did whistle, the noise stopped. After I went inside it started again. More whistling, more stopping. It was coming from an area that would have been non-trivial for me to get to, especially in the dark, and prudence won out over empathy, so I went back inside. > > Soon it stopped and I know not what it was - but I thought of this thread and Madison Hurd. It wasn’t me. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/22 "2009-03-31T13:11:42Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > It wasn’t me. It wasn’t _I._ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/23 "2009-03-31T14:50:26Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > It wasn’t _I._ > > 🙂 Good to know but I don’t think you were even a suspect. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/24 "2009-03-31T15:55:03Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Good to know but I don’t think you were even a suspect. I suspect everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/25 "2009-04-01T15:35:32Z")
Why don’t you let the cats do their job and find the thing? ---
**Author:** ![Clivas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clivas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clivas)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/26 "2009-04-01T17:29:41Z")
In the attic something stirred And filled my heart with fright And turned my crimson blood to curd One fateful sleepless night. A slapping, flapping, whisping sound Like naught i’d ever heard Had brought to mind the tombstone Of the poor Miss Maddie Hurd. A century or so ago As is the tale heard A family left a lonely child Upon this land, interred. I knew within my heart of hearts (no matter how absurd) The thing within the attic Was much more than beast or bird. “It’s nothing” say the neighbors Or so I’m oft assured But poor Miss Maddie lies in wait Of that I’m undeterred. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/27 "2009-04-01T20:20:51Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Although only vaguely related: > > I thought of this thread last night around two when I was awakened by a very odd noise from outside. It kind of sounded like a human scream - but _not quite_. It came in short bursts and went on, over and over. It really weirded me out. > > I worked up the courage to go outside and investigate and now -without walls to mask the sound - it sounded a little more canine. Kind of like the noise a hound dog makes when it is trailing something, but again _not quite_. Much shorter bursts. > > I whistled several times, thinking that perhaps some poor dog was injured or just simply out in the cold, but when I did whistle, the noise stopped. After I went inside it started again. More whistling, more stopping. It was coming from an area that would have been non-trivial for me to get to, especially in the dark, and prudence won out over empathy, so I went back inside. > > Soon it stopped and I know not what it was - but I thought of this thread and Madison Hurd. Bet it was a fox. I had a similar experience once, and the sound creeped me right the fuck out. Then I saw a documentary on foxes. The film showed a vixen screaming, and it was the exact same noise I heard on that night. Successful critter ID! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/28 "2009-04-01T20:34:27Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Bet it was a fox. I had a similar experience once, and the sound creeped me right the fuck out. > > Then I saw a documentary on foxes. The film showed a vixen screaming, and it was the exact same noise I heard on that night. Successful critter ID! I live far enough out in the country that it would not be unheard of. It would ease my heart a little to know that it wasn’t an injured dog. I went out last night to take the trash out and there was a fairly large animal in the woods. By fairly large, I mean, bigger than the usual tree-rats - and the tree-rats don’t usually stir after dark. I could hear it moving around. It came from the same area as the weird noises the other night. My front yards is all woods and rocks and is very steep. Maybe a vixen is creating a den up there. She would be welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/29 "2009-04-01T21:22:16Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Bet it was a fox. I had a similar experience once, and the sound creeped me right the fuck out. > > Then I saw a documentary on foxes. The film showed a vixen screaming, and it was the exact same noise I heard on that night. Successful critter ID! It really _is_ a creepy noise, isn’t it? Scared the bejaysus outta me the first time I heard it. Animals with human voices should be outlawed. I’m looking at you, peacocks. I’ve been trapped in a room witha frightened bat, and was surpised to find that, in addition to their sonar, they have an audible squeak. Especially when you step on them by mistake! ---
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/30 "2009-04-02T01:44:52Z")
could be squirrels, could be bats. Look around your eaves around dusk outside and maybe you’ll catch the buggers in action. Otherwise, I think you’ll have to wait and let your nose figure out where the dead thing is. I too have baited out over a half dozen squirrels in my attic with a Hav-a-Heart trap. Peanut butter smeared on a piece of bread works great as bait. I took’em to the other side of a busy interstate and figured if they could find their way back, they could live here. In the meantime I found and fixed where they were coming in, around a defunct attic fan. I think the idea of sprinkling carpenters chalk around the trap is brilliant. I also had to retrieve a half dozen babies one spring, after we caught mama. We took them in to the animal shelter and got a cat in trade. She’s still with us after 10 years. I don’t know what kind of bait you’d need for Madison Hurd, or what you’d catch him in. Please let us know what works for you. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/31 "2009-04-02T01:57:58Z")
> [@krisolov](#): > > I also had to retrieve a half dozen babies one spring, after we caught mama. We took them in to the animal shelter and got a cat in trade. Outstanding! > [@krisolov](#): > > I don’t know what kind of bait you’d need for Madison Hurd, Fresh blood, I should imagine. Lots. Perhaps some [twigs](http://billsmovieemporium.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/blair-witch-project-photo2.jpg) tied into interesting shapes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/32 "2009-04-02T03:11:46Z")
> [@krisolov](#): > > I think the idea of sprinkling carpenters chalk around the trap is brilliant. Something in Mama’s attic evaded a rat trap with great alacrity. Chalk footprints revealed it to be an Opossum. She had babies, I’m very glad we didn’t kill her or her offspring. She left with warm weather. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/33 "2009-04-02T11:58:52Z")
Update: I haven’t heard or seen anything up there in a while, and the cats aren’t showing any interest in the door. And so far at least, I don’t smell anything either. Time will tell. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/34 "2009-04-02T14:32:45Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Bet it was a fox. I had a similar experience once, and the sound creeped me right the fuck out. [QUOTE=Khadaji] I live far enough out in the country that it would not be unheard of. [/QUOTE] Hah. Foxes are about as country as rats. I used to regularly encounter them at night when I lived in the middle of central london. Now I live a tiny bit further out and regularly see them in the daytime. And only a couple of weeks ago we heard (from one of the neigbouring gardens) the delightful sound of the fox mating season starting. I’ve always thought it sounded more like a small child being painfully murdered rather than a dog in pain. The first time my girlfriend heard it she nearly called the cops - they don’t have foxes in rural Limburg, it would seem. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/35 "2009-04-02T14:59:00Z")
I got curious about Fox cries so I found this [website](http://www.angelfire.com/ar2/thefoxden/sounds.html). Some of those cries are rather creepy. I can see how you’d think it was an injured dog crying out … as it was being eaten by a Chupacabra. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/36 "2009-04-02T17:06:09Z")
Excellent, **Clivas**! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/37 "2009-04-03T04:52:12Z")
Does the OP happen to live near a prison? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/38 "2009-04-03T04:57:40Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I live far enough out in the country that it would not be unheard of. It would ease my heart a little to know that it wasn’t an injured dog. > > I went out last night to take the trash out and there was a fairly large animal in the woods. By fairly large, I mean, bigger than the usual tree-rats - and the tree-rats don’t usually stir after dark. > > I could hear it moving around. It came from the same area as the weird noises the other night. My front yards is all woods and rocks and is very steep. Maybe a vixen is creating a den up there. She would be welcome. Sound like this? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gVLvw-LhWyQ/hqdefault.jpg "Fox Scream (Noise in the woods)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVLvw-LhWyQ) ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/39 "2009-04-03T05:53:07Z")
Sounds like noises I had in my attic. Starlings had enlarged a small hole in the wall and were attempting to nest. Scratching noises and wing flutters. May be inside your walls and not in the attic. So you don’t see them when you look. ---
**Author:** ![Race\_Harley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Race\_Harley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Race_Harley)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118/40 "2009-04-03T06:03:49Z")
> [@Clivas](#): > > In the attic something stirred > And filled my heart with fright > And turned my crimson blood to curd > One fateful sleepless night. > A slapping, flapping, whisping sound > Like naught i’d ever heard > Had brought to mind the tombstone > Of the poor Miss Maddie Hurd. > A century or so ago > As is the tale heard > A family left a lonely child > Upon this land, interred. > I knew within my heart of hearts > (no matter how absurd) > The thing within the attic > Was much more than beast or bird. > “It’s nothing” say the neighbors > Or so I’m oft assured > But poor Miss Maddie lies in wait > Of that I’m undeterred. LOL You’re a sick pup! :dubious: Very nice! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-something-dying-on-my-attic-steps/491118.md?page=3)