What To Do If You Have A Dead Animal Under Your House

There are several signs that you can pick up on if you have a dead animal under your house, and while seeing your pets take an unusual interest in the cavity can be one, the smell of the dead animal is often the most potent. If you do have an idea that there is a carcass under your property then it is important to try and deal with it promptly, as the longer the dead animal is present then the more likely it is to cause further problems. Not only is the smell pervasive, but it will attract other animals too, which can cause a range of other problems.


Precautions To Take Before Dealing With The Carcass

One of the most important things to know is that there are certain dangers when it comes to dealing with an animal carcass, as although it is dead it can still transmit diseases, along with parasites that may still be alive. The first thing is to make sure that you have no direct contact, so wearing gloves and long sleeved clothing will make sure you don't touch the animal itself, while having thick garbage bags you can use to move the carcass is also required. Because there are also diseases that you can pick up from a carcass and any feces nearby, you should also wear a mask over your mouth, to ensure that you don't inhale anything unpleasant.


Gaining Access To The Space Under Your Home

Most properties that have a cavity beneath the house will have a removable panel or similar piece of steel mesh that can be opened to allow access to this space, which is useful for maintenance purposes. Make sure that you carefully remove this, and as you are moving through the crawl space, be careful as the space is likely to be quite confined, and you may find sharp or rough rocks on the surface below. The smell of the carcass should allow you to locate the dead animal underneath your property, although be aware that the smell may be overpowering, so you may need to steel yourself for this part of the work.


Bagging And Removing The Carcass

Once you have located the carcass, you will need to move it into your garbage bag so that you can actually move it away, and try to do this carefully as the longer the animal has been dead, the more likely the carcass is to fall apart. Nonetheless, make sure all of the carcass is moved into the garbage bag, and try to avoid leaving any parts remaining. You should also try to clean any smudges of bodily fluids left on the ground where possible. Once you have bagged the carcass, then it can either be incinerated, or you can look to dispose of it with the garbage if it is not too large an animal.


Preventing Future Animal Problems Under The Property

One of the most important parts of home maintenance is to make sure that any animals that may be exploring around your property don't gain access to the crawlspace, so checking to find out how the dead animal got in is important. Any gaps in the wire protecting this space should be sealed with steel mesh, and it is important to make sure that this lies flush with the ground, providing no opportunities for animals to get in. There are also measures that you can take to make your yard or garden less attractive to pest animals, and removing food sources and potential areas where they can find cover is also a useful step in the right direction.



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