Dead Animal Removal
Rather or not you had a problem with animals in the attic previously, there is a possibility that you could have a dead animal somewhere in your home. Occasionally, even without a previous issue, a single animal can find its way into your home and may eventually pass away. If you did have a previous issue, it is not uncommon that one of your pests got sick or got trapped inside and passed away. It is common that people don’t realize they have an issue with a dead animal in their home until the odor kicks in.
If you have never smelled an animal decaying, count yourself lucky, it is not a pleasant smell. You may at first think that you’re just imagining things, as the odor starts relatively subtly. After a couple of days though, especially if it’s summertime, the smell can get to a point where it is unbearable to be in the area. So you want to try and catch the issue before it gets to a point where you don’t even want to be in your home. While it is not hygienic or pleasant, the odor does eventually go away as the decomposition ceases, however this can take some time and is not recommended.
The smell is going to be terrible no matter what, and it gets worse before it gets better; however, there are certain things that can alter the severity and length of the smell. The species of the animal is a major indicator of how bad the smell can get, as well as the size. The smell isn’t going to be as strong with smaller animals than with bigger animals. The time of year, weather, and even state you’re in can also have an effect on the odor. For example, if you live in a state with extremely hot humid summers and the animal passes away in the summertime, you’re going to have a worse odor than if you live in a state with cooler and drier weather.
Two more major factors in the odor you can be experiencing is the location of the body and the air flow through the house. While many animals will pass away in your attic, there are other locations for them to get to where they could also pass away. Occasionally, they may fall behind a wall or get stuck in a vent. Obviously, the smell is going to be worse for you if the animal passes away in your main ventilation system rather than in a corner of your attic that may be near an opening. The air flow throughout your house can also affect the smell. If you notice that you’re getting whiffs every day around the same time, it is probably because that’s when the air is moving through your house over the body and carrying the odor to where you can smell it.
No matter what animal it is, it is important to remove the issue as soon as possible to prevent further odor and any health risks that can come with the carcass.