How to Find a Dead Animal in Your House
If you read this, you will know how to find a dead animal in your house. This can be an awful experience, but there are some important things to know about how to handle the situation. First of all, do not panic! You will need some supplies and patience before getting started, though. Here is a list of key items you will need to have on hand to find a dead animal in your house.
Once you have the area cleaned thoroughly, try placing some rags in place for an hour or so and let it work. Once an animal has died, the smell is usually not that bad, but it will become worse over time, so you need to do something if possible. If you can get to the animal before it has gotten too bad, use gloves or a stick with paper towels to pick up the animal.
Why Find a Dead Animal in Your House:
When an animal dies in your house, there are many reasons why. The main reason is that it got stuck somewhere and could not get out, but other causes could be damage to the building or lack of food/water. If you can find where they have gotten inside to get at your insulation or wires, fixing these areas or blocking them off is important.
If you can get to the animal before it has gotten too bad, use gloves or a stick with paper towels to pick up the animal. If you cannot get to it right away, like if the body is stuck somewhere in your wall of flooring, then this article on how to find a dead animal in your house will be helpful.
Essential Items You Will Need:
- Gloves – Latex or other non-porous gloves are recommended.
- Flashlight – Must have a powerful beam and be battery-powered, not a corded light.
- Plastic bags – Large trash bags and contractor bags work best.
- Lighter/matches – To seal the bag once the animal has been placed in it.
- Bucket or bowl – For holding rags covered with bleach solution.
- Rags – Cloth rags, paper towels, cat litter make good absorbent material.
- Rubber gloves are also recommended for this process.
7 Steps on How to Find a Dead Animal in Your House:
Step 1: Look for the Animal
It sounds easy enough, but it can be difficult to find a dead animal in your house. You should first look where you have seen droppings or smelled an odor coming from. This will help narrow down the area, but there are still many other places the animal could be hiding. For this reason, I recommend you read on and also look at my other article on how to find a dead animal in your house.
Step 2: Check the Floor
Check the floor for any holes or areas where animals can easily get in. This is usually around doors, windows, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, etc. I have seen many articles online telling people to wire a live trap to the floor next to a suspected area, but this does not work very well. I have also seen people use a live trap with peanut butter as bait and leave it there for weeks waiting for an animal to show up. This is not only cruel but can result in more animals getting stuck somewhere else. Instead, I recommend looking around the suspected area and covering it with a piece of wire mesh. Place some bait in there, then check often. You can also wire this to your floor or attach it to something if you are worried about animals chewing through the wire.
Step 3: Look Up
Check any cracks, holes, vents, etc., on the ceiling to make sure an animal is not stuck in there or if they are, give them something to climb out.
Step 4: Look Behind Things
Animals can get pretty much anywhere when looking for a dead animal in your house. Check behind dressers, chairs, appliances, et if you have access to the attic or crawl space, check in there as well.
Step 5: Check Inside Things
Look inside trash cans, cabinets, closets, etc. If the animal is stuck inside something,g it cannot get out and may not be easily seen from the outside. I don’t recommend moving heavy appliances or furniture without help because some things can be very heavy and also have sharp edges.
Step 6: Look in The Attic or Crawl Space
It is a dirty job, but if you have access to the attic or crawl space, check behind the insulation and inside any pipes which may give animal access to your house. Also, look for any droppings up her. They usually indicate where the dead body is. Only look in here if you can safely navigate this area without falling or hurting yourself in any way.
Step 7: Look for Droppings
Droppings are a big indicator of where the dead animal is, but it does not always mean an animal died there though. If you have seen an animal in your house or smelled an odor, then you should look for droppings. This may be difficult because some animals will not leave droppings out in the open. They will only go to certain spots or hide them very well. Keep looking until you find where it is hiding, and then follow the above steps to find the animal’s dead body.
Suggestions and Warnings:
Suggestion:
- I always recommend wearing rubber gloves, safety goggles, and breathing masks when looking for an animal because these chemicals are very strong and can cause damage to your skin or lungs.
- Do not spray chemicals inside your house without proper ventilation.
- Wear gloves and goggles if you are going to try using a humane chemical or trap near where the animal is trapped because it may come out and attack. Also, use them when handling any droppings to prevent diseases from coming into contact with your skin.
Warning:
- If you smell an odor, then you should wear proper safety equipment. The odors are usually very strong and can cause some people to become lightheaded or even pass out.
- Do not look for dead animals in your house if you do not have the time or resources because it is a dirty job and may be dangerous depending on where they are stuck.
- Do not let children or pets look for dead animals.-If you do not know where the animal is, it may be trapped in an area that is difficult to get into or can’t be reached. If this is the case, please call a professional in your local area, and they will come and remove the animal free of charge.
- Do not use bleach, gasoline, or any other type of chemical to clean up after an animal dies inside your house because it can cause damage to your home’s structure, and the chemicals may be harmful if inhaled. Professional cleaners are very affordable and should be used in this case.
- Do not assume the droppings are fresh. Look for signs of insects or bugs around them, which would indicate it has been there longer than a day
Conclusion:
When it comes to finding a dead animal in your home, prevention is the best course of action. You can take necessary precautions by investing in an electronic pest control system or by hiring a professional exterminator. If you find yourself with a deceased rodent on your hands and need help disposing of it, give us a call! We’ll come out to remove the body for you so that you don’t have to worry about being exposed to any diseases from handling it improperly.
I hope you enjoyed this article on how to find a dead animal in your house! Be sure to SHARE this useful information with everyone you know! Thanks for reading!
