Crackling noise from cupboard

pineapple

I have a wall cupboard in the corner ground floor - party wall on one side and external wall on the other. It's an old house with thick stone walls. The only thing in the cupboard is a gas meter.
Intermittently, usually at night time, I get a crackling sound like wires shorting out or something partying on a load of tin foil!
I don't think it's the meter as it's a new one and I've had the same sound when the old one was there. Plus the noise stops if I make a noise.
It was so loud last night that it woke me up after I had dozed off. I'm terrified to investigate as I have to hunch up into the corner to get at the cupboard and I'm worried something will leap out of me! The only time I was brave enough to shine a light into it, the noise stopped and there was no sign of anything.
When I investigate during the day, there are no signs of rodent activity. I put traps down and they didn't catch anything.
The fact that it stops if I make a noise makes me think it's something live and not wiring in the wall.
I've been through loads of sound libraries on the net. It's not tapping or rustling or scratching. What could it be?
Assuming there could be something in the party wall, do you think one of those electronic plug in deterrents will scare it away?

SailorSam

Do you think someone like this could help.
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maninthestreet

Search on ebay for a motion and/or sound activated DVR, and install it in the cupboard.

rrf494g

check out any holes thro' into the cupboard. Mice get thro' holes as small as a pencil can be pushed in. Block holes with wire wool (or brillo pads). Try peanut butter, chocolate or raisins as bait on your traps.


-or-

buy some hamster/mice toys that make a different noise, so at least you know what they are doing.

lindos90

I like a good mystery, and I would be doing just the same as you to try and sort it out. Once you know what it is you will be fine im sure!

I would jot down the times you notice it too, perhaps you notice it more at night because its generally a quieter time, it may be happening during the day too.

You say one wall is a party wall? I would also ask the neighbour if he hears the same noise, (must be quite loud if it woke you up!!), if he knows what it is..then again maybe its him making the noise, or he has something in his corner of the room that makes it?

Can you keep the cupboard empty for a while,clean it out and sprinkle some talc on the floor/shelves, that will tell you if anything is walking around actually in your cupboard.

Do you know if the outside wall or party wall has a cavity?

pineapple

Cheers
Yes I am going to ask the neighbour if they have heard anything or have anything installed in that corner.
It has only happened at night and stops when I bang the cupboard. Which suggests it is an animal. And not something like electrics.
There are no droppings or signs anywhere and traps I laid a while back were untouched.
So possibly in the wall cavity. I have big thick stone walls - I believe there is rubble inside.
It's not the 'scratting' or 'squeaking' you would expect from mice. That said, I just downloaded a recording of rats chomping. Pretty similar!
http://www.audiosparx.com/sa/display/sounds.cfm/sound_group_iid.2083
In the meantime I have plugged in a mouse/rat deterrent that is supposed to be both electromagnetic and ultrasonic. Though people say they don't work

aboard_epsilon

Yorkie bar lump on the mouse trap ..there is no way ever that they will resist ..

all the best.markj

pineapple

Yorkie Bar? There is no way I would resist!
A bit of fatty meat also does well...
But I believe whatever it is is 'in the wall' - as no signs in the house.

mrcow

It could be a rat, a mouse or a poltergeist.

Or - have you ever seen the film "The people under the stairs"? It's about a house which had weird deformed cannibals living behind the walls. Nothing they liked more than stalking prey at night and devouring raw flesh.

Worth a ponder.......you may need more than rat traps and holy water.

PlutoinCapricorn

Mrcow, that is horrible!

I just wanted to say that people recommend peppermint oil for deterring rodents: apparently they hate the smell of it. This might be worth trying.

thistledome

Try a light dusting of talc on the floor of the cupboard and look for footprints the next day.