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Roaches won’t sting your pets and don’t have venom like spiders do , but they present other dangers. Cockroaches are notorious carriers of diseases like salmonella and parasites like tapeworms. Because they’re so dirty, their bites (otherwise harmless) can also get infected. You don’t want your pets chasing and trying to eat cockroaches, or sleeping near a roach infestation. 

It can be difficult to know what type of animal is in your attic until you see it. But several clues can help you narrow down the suspects:

• Sounds: Smaller animals like rats and mice make scurrying and tapping/gnawing sounds. Larger animals like raccoons and opossums make louder clambering noises. Also, note when animals are noisy: Squirrels are active during the day, while rats are busiest at night.

• Droppings: Rats and mice leave small, rice-shaped droppings (the rat’s version is significantly larger). Bigger droppings belong to larger critters like raccoons. As long as you’re not squeamish, an image search can help you identify what you’re seeing in your attic.

When in doubt, take photos of damage or other evidence and show them to an experienced pest control pro.

There is no exact science here, due to the nature of nests and how mice raise their young, but a good place to start is to inspect the droppings. A single mouse poops a lot, leaving around 50 droppings in a single day, likely near a primary food source. If you find only sporadic droppings, you likely have a small infestation. If you spot large mounds of droppings, you are dealing with a big problem.

Rodents carry diseases and can trigger allergies, making professional control essential.