I live in a basement apt w/ a drop ceiling. There's a large wild animal living in the ceiling. What to do?

Question

I hear the animal over my head. I can hear it walking, hear it's claws. I know it is fairly large because I can sometimes see the ceiling panels move when it steps on them. One day my boyfriend lifted up a ceiling panel and saw an animal about the size of a cat run by. My apartment is pretty large. The animal is very active at night and this is freaking me out. I imagine a snarling wild thing falling down upon my head, attacking me with claws and teeth.
The thought of lifting up an panel and facing this thing eye to eye scares me to death. I have two little girls, ages 4 and 8 living in the apt too. I have told them it's a squirrel, that seemed the most innocuous. I have no idea how the animal got in the ceiling.

Answer 1

Since it's a drop ceiling, open a panel and get a trap (humane if possible). Hopefully, you'll ensnare the beast and release him somewhere he can make a family and live happily ever after.

alternative, buy some poison pellets and let it eat them until it's stomach bleeds out. (beware, stinky dead carcass could be stuck in your ceiling)

alternative: find the source. How has the thing gotten in? you need to close the hole or vent or whatever he crawled through. Usually these critters want to be away from humans, he must be attracted to the warmth or a food source. Make sure there are no food smells or crumbs where he could get to.

finally, your landlord is responsible for a critter problem. Be sure he calls a reputable service. Be sure you know how it got in... also with young kids, be sure the feces isn't in the living space. It can be toxic.

Good Luck With That.

Answer 2

It most likely is a squirrel. I had this happen some time ago. They find their way in most unusually. Rat poison won't work, you'll have dead rodent in the ceilling and horrible odor. My landlord hired an exterminator who put traps in various places in the ceiling throughout the apt. It took about 2 weeks before it was caught. There was a hole in an overhang in the back of the apartment building that wasn't sealed and another squirrel found it's way in. I bought my own traps and removed the ceiling panels, caught 2. Found the hole and patched it up myself.

Answer 3

It's almost certainly a possum. If you look around outside, you should be able to find a small opening that the animal is coming in through. It MUST go out at times, so when it's out, you could block up the opening with some stone, brick, masonry...so that it can't get back in.

You are correct about the danger of it falling through. The local "animal control" should be able to offer you some help. Don't poison it, because if it dies in the ceiling, you'll have an even bigger problem.

Answer 4

Open a few ceiling panels. Put a trap and some food on the floor. It will come out to get it. (don't be there when it does)

Answer 5

Is it trapped? maybe you should leave a few ceiling panels down and leave the house for a while with the door open. Maybe it will run away

Answer 6

Call your landlord immediately. It has got to be removed. Some of these animals can be vicious including squirrels. If they're nesting up there you really will have a problem. Hope to heck its not a skunk!

Answer 7

call the owner/manager. it is their responsibility to have it removed and any feces or food it may have left behind. i wouldn't do anything myself until, 1. you have talked to the owner/mang. 2. get any permission, in writing, if you are to take action on your own. be sure you are not liable to pay for any of this and any ensuing damage as a result of trapping, catching or what ever happens. good hunting.

Answer 8

It could be an opposum .... Go buy a shotgun and shells and spray your ceiling with shots.

Answer 9

call the landlord or a critter removal service NOW!

Answer 10

TELL THE LANDLORD!!! Or just get a scatter gun and have some fun with it.