What is that smell? It isn’t from the wastebasket. It’s not the garbage disposal either. UGH! Where is that horrible smell coming from? Your nose knows. Just follow it and… oh, my! It’s coming from the pantry walls. How could something so nasty smelling come from inside a wall? Looks like you have a dead rat.
All types of vermin can sneak into your home. Often you won’t even know they’re there unless something happens… like a nasty rotting smell. If you’re lucky, the animal died outside your home, and you remove it with little or no problems. Other times, though, you may have a major issue on your hands.
It doesn’t matter how many times you see a dead animal, it’s always a tinge shocking. Whether it’s a dead rat, squirrel or coyote, they need to be disposed of the correct way without harming you, your family or your pets. Just because an animal is dead, doesn’t mean it no longer poses a threat. Diseases, such as rabies, can remain within a dead animal up to two days after it’s died. But what is the best way to remove an animal carcass from your property?
First, you’re going to need a few tools:
- Gloves (leather, rubber, or latex gloves)
- Airtight bags
- Face mask
- Shovel
The face mask will help protect you from any airborne diseases the animal might be carrying. Always double bag the carcass to contain any potential hazardous diseases. If you happen to have any direct contact with the carcass such as urine or blood, wash the contaminated area immediately.
Disposing of Small Carcasses
Smaller animals can be wrapped in an airtight bag and safely tossed in the garbage. These animals are:
- Rats, Gophers & Mice
- Squirrels & Chipmunks
- Small Birds
- Snakes
Disposing of Large Carcasses
Larger animals should be disposed of per your city’s legal requirements. Some cities allow the carcass to be wrapped in plastic and buried at least four feet deep to keep scavengers from digging it up. If you have the ability, it’s best to incinerate them immediately. If neither burning nor burying is an option, contact animal control or a local pest control company. They will come to your home and safely remove the carcass. This concerns larger animals such as:
- Opossums
- Raccoons
- Skunks
- Coyotes
- Large Birds
Now, what about that smell in the attic? Often, animals such as mice, rats, and raccoons will gain entry to your home through roof vents. Your attic is the perfect place to cuddle up in during the cold winter months. Many times they become trapped in an attic and starve or simply die of natural causes. All of which often leaves you stuck with a rather nasty smell in your attic or even in your walls.
If the smell is coming from your attic or from the crawl space under your home, then you may be in luck. Well… luckier than having one stuck in a wall. Crawling into a confined space to find the rotting carcass is not a pleasant task, that’s for certain. In either case, you definitely want to wear a face mask. Working within a closed environment like an attic or under a house can make you sick. In situations like these, it’s best to call in a professional to remove your problem pest.
After Disposing
If your smell is coming from a wall, you may be faced with a rather expensive repair bill. You can find the source of the odor from the attic and attempt to pinpoint the exact location of the dead animal in your wall. At that time, you will need to cut into the wall to remove the rotting carcass.
Okay, the carcass is gone. Now, what about that smell? It can take a long time before your home will entirely be rid of the horrible smell left behind by your dead critter. There are some ways you can quicken the process. For one, if the animal died in your attic, you may want to consider removing and replacing any wood or insulation under and around where the animal died. Keeping windows open also helps considerably. Venting the area is one of the best ways to eliminate the smell. You can try bleaching the area, but only if it is well ventilated.
If the smell of rotting rodent is driving you out of your house, then it’s time to call in the professionals. An expert team of professionals, like those at AIPM, will take care of all your pest control and removal needs. The professionals at AIPM are university trained and know exactly how to handle any pest problem from roaches running amok in your kitchen to opossums terrorizing your fruit trees. They have it under control! Contact us to receive a free consultation here.
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