Dead Squirrel in Ceiling

10.03.2005 - A dead squirrel in a ceiling is no big deal, really. It happens all the time. Squirrels live in ceilings, homeowners are too lazy or cheap or ignorant to have them removed when the squirrel is alive, but then eventually it dies and creates a horrible smell inside the home, and then the people therein decide to do something. To be fair, some people don't know that they have squirrels up in the ceiling, but these same people must also be deaf. Anyway, they do have a sense of smell - they are not asnomiacs - and then I get called to do the dirty work at my low, low prices.

This job wouldn't be noteworthy except for one thing - this was a parallel cathedral crawl. I've only done a few in my life. This means that the ceiling was a cathedral ceiling of the same angle as the roof - meaning that I had to squirm my way in an extremely narrow gap for a long distance. Basically, the crawl from hell that no one in his right mind, or with greater than 5% body fat, could make. But I dragged my crazy skinny ass up through that tight gap from hell, and when I got to the top I found an open cavity above the front door area with this dead squirrel inside. Some flesh-eating ants had found it as well. I put a few of the ants down my shirt for good measure, bagged the squirrel, and went on my merry way.

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How Do You Know If There Is A Dead Squirrel In The House? - The question of how do you know if there is a dead squirrel in the house is one that is asked usually when it is too late and the smell is already all over the place. A lot of people do not know if the smell in fact does come from a dead squirrel or from anything else for that matter. The fact is that the smell could come from any wildlife, and even from the wildlife that has actually died outside your home. That stench could be strong enough that you may think that the animal must be inside.

But how do you know if there is a dead squirrel in the house for sure? The only way to find out is by looking for it. Another hint will be the kind of area that you live in and where the smell is coming from. If you live in an area that has a lot of squirrels and the smell is coming from the attic, basement or the wall then there is a very good chance that the dead animal is indeed a squirrel. You should find the dead animal and clean the area where it died with disinfectant.

Squirrels inside walls are so common that it is only when they eventually die that the homeowners are notified of their presence and decide to take action. In most of the cases, the homeowners will do little to nothing and only have the ceiling removed when the squirrels living inside them die and start to decompose. It is that exact horrible smell inside the home that compels the homeowners to finally notice the tiny troublemakers and get rid of their bodies. Having a squirrel living side your home, getting up to all sorts of trouble, and making an array of noises is bad enough, but when it dies and starts to decompose there, it could lead to a whole new set of problems that you may not necessarily be prepared for. As a homeowner, it is evident that you must be prepared for certain problems related to animal nuisance. But by far, the worst thing that could ever happen to you is having a decomposing dead animal within the sanctuary of your house. In these cases, we have got you covered.

A dead squirrel in the ceiling! What to do next?

Not only will you find the carcass of the squirrel littered with fleas and maggots intensifying the already foul smell, but you will also find other small animals and rodents attracted by it. In these cases, professional help ought to be called in as they are well-aware as to how to take care of the problem and have significant experience in the field. You will find that the removal process will take less time and effort on your part. With their vast experience, they can pinpoint the location within your house that has become a living space for wild animals.

What to expect when you are removing the carcass yourself?

However, if you have decided to take on the grueling task of removing dead squirrels yourself, you should wear gloves that are either latex or plastic. Once the body is removed, cleaning comes next which is the hardest step of this process. Enzymatic cleaner and bleach with water can get rid of all the remaining debris, stains, fluids, and maggots. It should be kept in mind that the disposal of the carcass should be cross-checked by your local animal service department as sometimes there are certain laws to follow. Either way, if you were to come across a dead squirrel in the ceiling, you should take it as a sign that perhaps it is time for you to conduct a thorough examination and inspection of your living space and clean all the possible areas to ensure that you are not subjected to something like this again. Frequent checks can assure that.