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Started By
Message
Need help re: rodent issue
Posted on 10/6/19 at 8:11 pm
Posted on 10/6/19 at 8:11 pm
I’ve lived in the same house for 5 years, and have encountered a rodent issue for the first time.
My dogs had killed 4 rodents in the past month. That’s not a huge issue, as we live close to the water and there are some nearby fields.
Next, we noticed large flies in the bathrooms. I killed maybe 20 over a 3-4 night span. These were large flies. We have a contract with an extermination company, and they came over to the house and determined that a pest must have died in the attic or a wall.
Eventually the flies went away. Fast forward one week, all of a sudden I notice a smell in the den. It’s a musty smell, similar to what you get in a closet that has rarely been opened. I can’t pinpoint a specific location in the den. It seems to come and go in various spots, sometimes stronger than others. This has now go on for about 5 days.
I have sprayed foam in possible entry points outside.
I haven’t seen any live pests inside. We found one box under the sink that was chewed on, and 2 possible bits of droppings, nothing else.
This smell is bad, and pretty annoying. For now, plugins and candles help, but I’d like to get rid of the smell, and I can’t help but think it’s rodent shite somewhere in the air duct.
Any help would be appreciated with this. Right now I’m just guessing and trying to connect some dots.
My dogs had killed 4 rodents in the past month. That’s not a huge issue, as we live close to the water and there are some nearby fields.
Next, we noticed large flies in the bathrooms. I killed maybe 20 over a 3-4 night span. These were large flies. We have a contract with an extermination company, and they came over to the house and determined that a pest must have died in the attic or a wall.
Eventually the flies went away. Fast forward one week, all of a sudden I notice a smell in the den. It’s a musty smell, similar to what you get in a closet that has rarely been opened. I can’t pinpoint a specific location in the den. It seems to come and go in various spots, sometimes stronger than others. This has now go on for about 5 days.
I have sprayed foam in possible entry points outside.
I haven’t seen any live pests inside. We found one box under the sink that was chewed on, and 2 possible bits of droppings, nothing else.
This smell is bad, and pretty annoying. For now, plugins and candles help, but I’d like to get rid of the smell, and I can’t help but think it’s rodent shite somewhere in the air duct.
Any help would be appreciated with this. Right now I’m just guessing and trying to connect some dots.
2
Posted on 10/6/19 at 8:32 pm to TexasTiger08
The only way I know to completely get rid of bad odors is commercial sized ozone generator.You can rent them and companies that clean up houses from smoke and water damage use them to get rid of smoke odors.You run it 24-48 hours,you can’t stray in house while it’s running because ozone is damaging to the lungs.
Only other option is air fresheners to try and mask the odors ,decay odors will eventually go way but how long depends on size of rodent. It’s annoying as hell.
Only other option is air fresheners to try and mask the odors ,decay odors will eventually go way but how long depends on size of rodent. It’s annoying as hell.
Posted on 10/6/19 at 8:51 pm to LSUA 75
I wouldn’t be against that if it worked.
I just couldn’t imagine rodent droppings smelling for such a long period of time unless it was living up there constantly leaving a mess.
I just couldn’t imagine rodent droppings smelling for such a long period of time unless it was living up there constantly leaving a mess.
Posted on 10/6/19 at 11:41 pm to TexasTiger08
There is pretty much nothing you can do to get rid of the smell until the thing ( rat/mouse) desiccates in the wall. I had the same thing in an old farmhouse. Very unpleasant.
Burning incense would help mask it. It will probably take a good week or two.
Burning incense would help mask it. It will probably take a good week or two.
Posted on 10/7/19 at 4:06 am to TexasTiger08
quote:
Eventually the flies went away. Fast forward one week, all of a sudden I notice a smell in the den. It’s a musty smell, similar to what you get in a closet that has rarely been opened. I can’t pinpoint a specific location in the den. It seems to come and go in various spots, sometimes stronger than others. This has now go on for about 5 days.
Hate to say it but the fly maggots would have sped up the process.
Posted on 10/7/19 at 5:55 am to TigerGman
Do you have rats or mice? You can’t go SJW and be nice with them, hardware stores sell the snap traps for $2. They are the best. Go buy 10 of them and set up along the walls in the area you think they are.
What are they eating? Are they going outside? The live traps work well too and you can put them around pets and kids. I use them outside if I have an issue and snap traps inside where my kids and dogs won’t go. You can get a live trap at Ace for $30.
What are they eating? Are they going outside? The live traps work well too and you can put them around pets and kids. I use them outside if I have an issue and snap traps inside where my kids and dogs won’t go. You can get a live trap at Ace for $30.
Posted on 10/7/19 at 6:01 am to baldona
I would assume it’s mice. The dead pests outside have been 2 mice and 2 possums.
I have yet to find a live one inside. I’m sure the flies came because of a dead one in the attic. And the box that had a corner shredded was more indicative of a mouse than a rat...at least in my opinion.
Kitchen is kept clean. We don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink. Pet food is kept in sealed containers.
My biggest current issue is this smell in the den. I don’t know if it’s rodent waste, a dead pest, or some other thing altogether. I think I’m going to try to get an AC technician over today to give things a look and see if he thinks it’s worth it to clean the ducts out.
I have yet to find a live one inside. I’m sure the flies came because of a dead one in the attic. And the box that had a corner shredded was more indicative of a mouse than a rat...at least in my opinion.
Kitchen is kept clean. We don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink. Pet food is kept in sealed containers.
My biggest current issue is this smell in the den. I don’t know if it’s rodent waste, a dead pest, or some other thing altogether. I think I’m going to try to get an AC technician over today to give things a look and see if he thinks it’s worth it to clean the ducts out.
Posted on 10/7/19 at 8:34 am to TexasTiger08
quote:
I would assume it’s mice. The dead pests outside have been 2 mice and 2 possums.
Rats are more likely to be in your attic. I'm not an expert, but I've never had mice on multiple levels of my house. Such as moving from your attic to your garage. I have had rats do this and roof rats are very common.
You'd have to have a hell of a lot of mice to be able to smell their shite. You'd know if Possums were somewhere in your house, they would be loud as shite. I had a squirrel nest in my attic and I killed 3 juvenile squirrels in/ around the attic and 3 adults outside in the trees. They were loud as shite on the drywall to my attic.
If you call an HVAC company and tell them you have a musty smell and may need your ducts clean, 9/10 of them will say yes you do whether you need it or not. HVAC companies are some of the worst to scam you into doing shite you don't need.
Water/ mildew/ mold smell does not really smell like a dead animal. You shouldn't be getting them confused to be honest.
This post was edited on 10/7/19 at 8:35 am
Posted on 10/7/19 at 8:49 am to baldona
quote:
I'm not an expert, but I've never had mice on multiple levels of my house.
We've caught mice in both first and second stories of the house, they can definitely get around. Snap traps with a tiny amount of peanut butter, properly laid along the walls should catch whatever's there.
Only takes a hole about the size of a dime for a mouse to get through, so it's worth going around and taking another look for possible entry points.
Posted on 10/7/19 at 9:57 am to baldona
quote:
Water/ mildew/ mold smell does not really smell like a dead animal. You shouldn't be getting them confused to be honest.
I know the dead animal smell. This is not it. This doesn’t smell like water or mold either. Smells like poop to be honest
Posted on 10/7/19 at 10:04 am to TexasTiger08
quote:
Smells like poop to be honest
Could you have a plumbing/ septic issue? A back up possibly?
I could see smelling rat shite if you have a bad rat issue. I've never had possums in my house, don't know how much they'd shite. Mice, man you'd have to have a horrible mice issue or one that was really been going on for awhile to really smell it I would think.I'm not saying its not possible, I'd just think unless its somewhere you never go then you would be seeing or hearing them before you smell them.
Posted on 10/7/19 at 10:24 am to baldona
It’s not the plumbing shite type of smell.
When I smell the dead animals, they’re outside. If this one is trapped in my air duct, I suppose it could be a different type smell.
You’re right, it’d have to be an insane infestation to smell that much shite, considering I haven’t seen any poop inside the house.
Exterminators are coming to set more traps on Friday. I may have those guys climb in the attic too. I’m a pussy when it comes to rodents, except for squirrels. I can handle the spiders, and begrudgingly the roaches, not this shite
When I smell the dead animals, they’re outside. If this one is trapped in my air duct, I suppose it could be a different type smell.
You’re right, it’d have to be an insane infestation to smell that much shite, considering I haven’t seen any poop inside the house.
Exterminators are coming to set more traps on Friday. I may have those guys climb in the attic too. I’m a pussy when it comes to rodents, except for squirrels. I can handle the spiders, and begrudgingly the roaches, not this shite
Posted on 10/7/19 at 11:14 am to TexasTiger08
Had a rat die in my attic a couple years ago. Could really smell it in my daughter's bedroom. Found it nestled down in the insulation. Good times removing that. 
Posted on 10/7/19 at 4:44 pm to BMoney
quote:
Had a rat die in my attic a couple years ago. Could really smell it in my daughter's bedroom. Found it nestled down in the insulation. Good times removing that.
I had some in a rental house with white insulation, I put a snap trap up there. Dang rat rolled around a good 10 ft. It looked like a blood bath in the white insulation, it was like following a deer blood trail in snow....so if they are in your attic, note to self tie them traps down somehow. Zip ties work well or staples or fishing line.
Posted on 10/7/19 at 5:13 pm to BMoney
The smell is stronger in two specific areas. I may have to go in the attic and check them out. I am not equipped for this, haha.
I’m gonna be covered head to toe and get some masks or something. It’s either that or I wait this out until Friday and use up plug ins and candles.
I’m gonna be covered head to toe and get some masks or something. It’s either that or I wait this out until Friday and use up plug ins and candles.
Posted on 10/8/19 at 1:37 pm to BMoney
Finally bit the bullet and had a guy come out. Found a 14 inch dead rat way deep in the attic. Already smells a bit more fresh in the house. Here’s to hoping it’s the only one 
Posted on 10/9/19 at 8:48 pm to TexasTiger08
Get something called One Bite. Some old fashioned hardware stores carry them. Small bags of rat poison. Teh take them to the nest and it kills them all.
Also go online to "Predator Pee". The sell Coyote urine that you apply in various ways. It keeps rats away. I had a very severe attic infestation in an old family house that was empty of 2 years. After I cleaned up I put out the ONe Bite and the Coyote urine in the attic and then around and under the house. It has been 6 years and no return. I just re apply about once or twice a year.
They will come back. You have to break their habit.
Good luck
Also go online to "Predator Pee". The sell Coyote urine that you apply in various ways. It keeps rats away. I had a very severe attic infestation in an old family house that was empty of 2 years. After I cleaned up I put out the ONe Bite and the Coyote urine in the attic and then around and under the house. It has been 6 years and no return. I just re apply about once or twice a year.
They will come back. You have to break their habit.
Good luck
Posted on 10/10/19 at 2:33 pm to TexasTiger08
quote:
Finally bit the bullet and had a guy come out. Found a 14 inch dead rat way deep in the attic. Already smells a bit more fresh in the house. Here’s to hoping it’s the only one
You need to set some more traps, did they do that for you? Usually where there is one there is more. Or at least put some poison in your attic.
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