No luck finding out what the creature might be. But upcoming repairs to my bedroom ceiling may clear up the matter. I am going to remove the popcorn stuff on my ceiling and replace a lot of the drywall ceiling that was damaged before the new roof was installed. This will involve removing a large section of ceiling, allowing a good veiw of what is living up there.

I need to call the roofer and have him return to finish up some areas at the end of the tiles that may be letting creatures in there. We need to make sure that all areas of escape are blocked. 6 years ago

At first I thought the grawing on the wires in my attic was a mouse. As the semester ended,and I find myself better rested, I slept lighter. The grawing on wires became chewing on wood. Okay, it was very loud and it must be a rat! But one evening I was awakened by this loud thumping and squeeling in the attack. I pictured in my mind a gremlin grabbing a rat by the tail and and slamming it back and forth against the rafters in the attic. A horrid battle that went on for several very long minutes. Definately NOT a rat.
But this is the desert and wildlife options are limited. Two weeks ago as I lay reading in bed in the middle of the day, something began walking about in the attic. Something with weight. I was almost too afraid to move, but needed confirmation of my sanity and called for recently home from Iraq daughter in law to come in my room. She stood and listened and agreed that was no fraking rodent. What the hell?
The past two night it has wakened me gnawing, chewing and now scratching ( imagine the noise a cat would make if it were scratching for a place to relieve itself in my attic.) Chew, scratch. So, I threw something at the ceiling and it stopped for a bit. But not long. I threw a hanger at the ceiling at it stopped for a while.
After some internet research and calling vector control- we have decided that it must be a large opossum (probably with babies who are playing loudly up there). I am too far from the river for it to be a raccoon. Not a cat because a cat makes noises and walked much softer.
Or it is a Gremlin. I have put no water up there just in case. I am however having nightmares of it eating through the ceiling into my bed! And trust me, I have had enough of rats in my bed, thank you! 6 years ago