Critter between first floor ceiling and second floor

[Stag]

Last night around 11:30, my wife wakes me up. She tells me that she can hear something running around between the first floor ceiling and second floor. So I would assume it could be a mouse or some other small critter. My questions are:

1) How would a critter get between the floor ceiling and second floor?
2) How do I get the critter out?

Thanks

[reskewed]

mice can fit through a 1/2" gap. they get in through most any crack or opening, even a door left open for a few minutes can be an opportunity for one to get in. To get rid of them, they will go to where your (their) food is. They especially like pet food, so if you have animals put thier food in a plastic container if that is practical. Go to the local hardware store and get one or two mouse traps, bait them with peanutbutter- I have found this to work great because they really have to work to get it off the trap and will always set the trap off. Put the traps near pet food storage area, and or somewhere in your kitchen/pantry area. You'll get em when they get hungry!

[rrr]

Don't put a mouse trap in the middle of a room. Mice are almost blind and use their whiskers to help guide them. They run along objects and walls so put you trap against a wall or something-not in the open.

[Stag]

Did not hear any noise yesterday but some people are telling it could be Squirrels. I find this amazing that they could get between the ceiling and floor. I was told to put a squirrel trap in the craw space.

[BDawson]

Just hope that it's not roof rats. They, too can fit in small openings, and are harder to get rid of.
There is a big infusion of them at Va Beach houses now, and they are prolific.

[Stag]

I never heard of a roof rat. I hope I don't have them.

What else you should know about roof rats
* Roof rat droppings are long and cylindrical.
* Roof rats are nocturnal.
* Roof rats can transmit diseases like the bubonic plague and typhus. At this point, none of the roof rats captured and tested in Maricopa County have been diseased.
* Roof rats will enter homes and buildings. They only need a hole the size of a quarter to gain entry.
* Roof rats are good climbers. They can climb walls and use utility lines and fences to travel from structure to structure.
* Outside, roof rats will nest in trees, woodpiles, garbage, and plants. In our area, oleanders seem to be a popular nesting location.
* Inside, high places, like attics, are their preference.
* Roof rats do not burrow in the ground or swim.
* Roof rats eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, pet food and invertebrates (spiders and worms, for example). They will also eat paper.
* Female roof rats can each have up to four litters a year, each containing five to eight young. In urban areas where they have no natural predators, the survival rate of the babies is high.
* If you have the following items around your home, you may be more prone to attracting roof rats: palm trees, yucca plants, pampas grass, honeysuckle, Italian cypress trees, any heavy shrubbery, wood piles, and storage boxes.

[scotty80]

Start with the mouse traps. If you don't catch any then worry. Could also be flying squirels. My Father has a big problem with them they can actually gluide through the air. So if you have trees near or power lines running to your house they can get to your roof that way and find a way in.

I had a mouse problem once, could hear them running up and down the inside of the walls. Then a black snake decided to move into the basement-no more mice! Just gotta pickup the snake skins before the wire finds em

[rrr]

Scotty-Sent you a bmail.-Unrelated topic

[TKBMECH]

Thats what I was going to suggest, is get you a black snake and throw him under the house, if its mice, they will vacate quickly or get eaten!