While it may not be pleasant to think about, there is a chance you have a dead animal hidden somewhere in your house. The animal is most likely in an attic, basement, or crawl space. The animal was probably pleasantly alive in your home first and died of old age or starvation due to being trapped somewhere inside.
There are three signs to be aware of that may indicate there is a dead animal in the house. If you notice one or more of these signs, it is essential to investigate further to determine what is happening.
1. Smell
When an animal dies, its body will begin to decompose, which creates a harsh odor. If the dead body is in or near a vent, that smell can spread throughout the entire house. If you only smell it in a specific room or area of the house, it may be in walls or vents near that room. Even after the animal body is removed, you may notice a lingering smell, which can be treated with popular spray cleaners.
2. Insects
When an animal body decomposes, it will attract insects that feed on decomposition. For example, flies will lay eggs on dead animal bodies, so the larvae can feed as they are born. If you notice a sudden increase in insects in your home or specific areas of your home, there is a good chance you have a dead animal body.
3. Feces or other signs of animals
When an animal is living in your home, it will bring its food home to eat, it may build a nest, have babies, and it will undoubtedly defecate somewhere in your home. If you find signs of an animal, you may have a live animal in your home or one that has passed away. Signs of animal life, coupled with a strong odor or insects, are most likely signs the animal is dead. Either way, you need to investigate it further and take appropriate action.
In addition to it being unpleasant, having a dead animal in your home can lead to health problems for the people living in the house. There may also be other live animals still living in your house as well, depending on how many were in your home. Homeowners have to deal with a lot of things, but removing dead animal bodies doesn’t need to be one of them.
There are companies like All City Animal Tracking that offer dead animal removal as one of their many services. They understand the problems dead animals can create for homeowners, and they know how to track down the problem regardless of where it is in your home. You can have the peace of mind knowing it has been taken care of professionally.
Sometimes, if a home has been empty for an extended period, the obvious signs of a dead animal can go unnoticed. This situation can be a problem when trying to buy or sell a home. For people trying to sell their home, before being added to the real estate listings, it is vital to have the home inspected to make sure there are no surprises for potential buyers that may cause them to look elsewhere.
For new home buyers, you can have the real estate listings inspected before buying to ensure if there are any problems such as dead animal bodies or damage to insulation or wires due to animals living in the home. Fortunately, these problems are easily fixable and do not need to deter you from making the home purchase. If you are unsure of where to find a quality home inspector, you can ask your real estate agent for suggestions.
