What is making the scratching noise in my wall?

If you can hear ants or termites crunching, you've got good ears! There are also wood boring beetles......those you should be able to hear!

Other thoughts are birds, squirrels, pack rats, and raccoon. Time to visit the attic to see if you have some bird nests up there or signs of larger animals. You may need to hire an exterminator for an insepction and if some critter is there, a way to remove and prevent reinfestation.

If it can't get out you will have to knock a hole in the wall, either now or when it's dead. It will stink to high heavens. I'd get a couple of female cats to keep mostly out doors. I have 3 manx females currently and 2 kittens, I haven't had that happen since I've had the cats. It did happen about 25 years ago, in my two oldest son's room, yep we didn't knock the hole until it started stinking. Then friend brought a stubby tailed kitten to us, thought it had it's tail cut some how, Turned out to be a manx we've had the line ever since. I don't love cats but I sure appreciate what services they render, I'm a gardener, they keep rodents from the garden and from the house. Used to have periodic invasions of moles, no more. And you get to pet some affection sometimes, mostly my manx are a bit wild, but as they grow older, like the oldest one Pepper, yeah I pick her up and pet her a lot, she's got a home for life she is here to stay. Don't get a Tom, in all this 20 years I've tried to keep a manx Tom and at about a year old they'll disappear , for longer and longer periods I guess looking for a prettier cat, and then disappear for good. Have had one turn up after being gone for a couple years only to again disappear after a week or two. I don't think there is really another sensible solution to rodents.

I doubt your hearing ants...

I have had birds somhow get stuck in the walls.. They dont stop if you bang on the wall...

I have forced hot air, with a wall vent, i was able to bend down the aluminum and see into the wall with one of those little dental mirrors. When I realized it was birds, I'd leave the vent bent and open with the door to the room closed...Eventually they would find thier way to the light, trap them, and let them go...

If you have someone handy, and you can pin-point where the noise is, you can cut a square in the sheetrock, and take a look. As long as the cut is clean, it should be easy to repair the wall after you discover what it is.

All though.. this all seems like alot to do...

When I heard that noise I put out mice traps. I caught 13 of those little buggers. Sounds the same to me. And no, you won't hear ants or termites. I have since moved and live in a cinder block house. And now squirrels get in my attic. I chase them out and block the hole. I know they can cause damage too, but they're just too cute to kill.

it could be,mice.ants,termites,rats or just your imagination