How to find and remove a dead squirrel in a house

You will need to use your nose in order to find a dead squirrel in the house. There are a few places you will more than likely find the dead squirrel - in the attic, for example, or in crawl spaces, wall cavities, and maybe even under your porch or stairs. The longer the animal is left there, the more it will decompose, and with the decomposition comes an odor problem. It also brings with it a bacterial problem. Squirrels, much like many other wild animals, can bring a threat of disease, and this can be present long after the animal has died. The waste matter of a squirrel can be just as dangerous as the animal itself, and that applies to even the squirrel's urine and droppings. You will need a strong antibacterial cleaning agent in order to fight this bacterial problem, and combined with bleach, should help to remove the pheromones present in the squirrel's urine too. Wherever the squirrel has peed, you'll need to clean. The pheromones will attract others, and that would be a shame after you have gone through the rigmarole of finding the dead one you have in your house somewhere right now. In some cases, you will be able to reach the animal without too much in the way of drastic action. In others, however, you may be required to cut away pieces of wall in order to get to a dead animal trapped inside a wall cavity. This is why we would always suggest hiring a professional - it's not a job you'll want to get wrong.



NEED LOCAL HELP? We are wildlife removal professionals servicing 95% of the USA. Click here to hire our local squirrel removal expert in your home town. Updated 2021. But read the below advice first!

NEED LOCAL HELP? We are wildlife removal professionals servicing 95% of the USA. Click here to hire our local squirrel removal expert in your home town. Updated 2021. But read the below advice first!

Whether you live in a rural area or an urban setting, it seems that all sorts of unwanted animals are able to find their way into your home at almost any time of year. These creatures are usually searching for free food and water, a dry place to sleep, or a safe place to nest and raise their young. Squirrels are especially known for making home in yours, mostly because of its quiet and seclusion. One major down side of this is that Squirrels can die inside your home. There can be many causes; illness, poisoning, traps, or even by natural causes. Squirrels are rodents and so they are supple and able to fit in very small spaces. They can easily fit in the gap between walls, under floorboards, appliances, or behind boxes, furniture, and cabinets.

Something even as minuscule as a squirrel can stink if it is left rotting in the spaces around your hot attic. Locating and cleaning up the squirrel's body is important. Because it smells, it can attract bugs and other carrion feeders as well as possibly spread diseases or parasites throughout your home. Here is a basic guideline to locate and remove a squirrel carcass rotting in your house.

Before you begin, Make sure you have gathered the right tools! Squirrel carcasses', like their live counterparts, can carry a variety of parasites and/or diseases. Rule number one: Don't breathe over its dead body or try touch it with bare hands! Always wear the proper type of breathing mask or respirator, use proper eyewear like goggles, and always have on good quality disposable gloves. If the carcass already has a foul odor, it has probably become "squishy" to the touch. Protective wear will keep any squirrel bodily fluids from entering your eyes or mouth. Have a strong disinfectant such as chlorine bleach, as well as an odor remover and some insect spray on hand. You will also need paper towels, rags, and plastic bags at the ready.

Now let's find the body (ies) - If you were active in DIY animal removal, you probably put out traps or poisons. Let's look there first. Check the location of all your traps, and if you laid out poison, look around the nearest available source of water. If you have previously found a nest, check that area as well. Trust your senses! If the odor smells most powerful during the heat of the day, it is smartest to look through your attic or basement first. If the smell only permeates only one room, check that area by sniffing the walls, ceiling, and floor. If your home has a breeze, it will carry the odors throughout your home, so search for the most concentrated point of smell. This is not always the body's location, but it will be in close proximity.

If the strongest concentration of smell is found in an open area like your attic, garage, or basement, you must carefully check all the insulation, around and inside all containers, and underneath any large objects. If it is a tightly closed area like a passage between walls, under your house, or crawl space, you can only sniff it out, looking for the area with the most powerful stench. Unfortunately, if it is inside the wall or a tiny crawlspace, you will probably to cut a hole to access the carcass.

It is very important to spray for bugs or parasites, and to completely disinfect the area. If you can already smell it, you will most likely find maggots consuming the body as well as flies and other creepy things. After you remove the body, seal it tightly in a plastic bag and depose of it properly. Clean the contaminated area first using paper towels to remove any oozing mess left behind. Once that is done, use your disposable rags to scrub the area. Clean the affected area several times with the disinfectant to remove all traces of dangerous bacteria, and treat with the odor remover. Any "soft" surfaces that cannot be cleaned that the creature died on must be removed and disposed of immediately!

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