Time is of the essence if you discover raccoons living in any structure on your property. Although they’re smaller, these creatures are still a nuisance. Their slow movements, combined with heavy thudding steps and the tendency to thrash around, make them easy creatures to identify.You’ll hear these nocturnal critters the most at night. No, that's not the sound of chains rattling in the attic. They enter attics looking for shelter. A repetitive ticking or clicking sound coming from walls and ceilings can result from the expansion and contraction of metal HVAC ductwork that conducts ventilation through these voids. If you hear a persistent clicking sound inside of your walls, try to trace down the cause and resolve it.Clicking sounds in the walls may be the result of thermal expansion in copper or polyvinyl chloride piping, causing it to pop or crackle when hot water passes through it. If you’ve noticed sounds coming from different parts of the house that are usually empty, it could mean animals are living in your home. Exterminators sometimes use a stethoscope placed on the wall to listen for this sound when trying to locate a carpenter ant nest.Audible clicking or popping sounds located in the wall behind or near an electrical wall outlet may indicate a problem with the wiring. It could be due to a loose wire or a broken connection. Exterminators sometimes use a stethoscope placed on the wall to listen for this sound when trying to locate a carpenter ant nest. Her work has appeared in such publications as "Clifton" magazine, "Calliope" and the "Georgetown Review." On top of the annoying soundtrack, this is a strong indication that they have babies.The most common time of year for them to break in is early spring, as they are looking for a safe place to give birth to their litters. Sometimes you can hear them actually drop a little acorn. Not something to put off for laterSquirrels keep a tight schedule, and you’ll generally hear them in the morning or at night, as they’re entering and exiting the house. In most cases, however, the expense of opening the wall to do so may not be worth it.Heating ducts sometimes make clicking sounds when the heating system comes on or after it goes off. The sound the ants make, which is similar to the crinkling sound of cellophane, is how the carpenter ants communicate with each other. Hearing animal sounds throughout the home isn’t a thought to dismiss. Having said that, they are very active during all nonwinter months. Other indications include not being able to turn off a device plugged into the outlet and getting shocked when inserting a plug into the outlet.