You’re planning to have friends over this weekend for cocktails on the deck. You go outside to clean up a bit and you’re hit in the face with the smell of death.
What could it be? Where is that disgusting smell coming from? What can you do about it? If your deck is low to the ground, you might not be able to crawl underneath to check out the situation and determine whether or not you have dead rodents underneath.
No matter the size or shape of your deck, any odour poses a very real threat of dead animals below.Keep reading to learn more about signs of dead rodents under the deck.
1. You’re Smelling Putrid Odours Coming from Your Deck
Of course, one of the most easily identifiable signs of dead rodents under the deck comes from the noxious smell decompositioncreates. If you walk outside and immediately smell the odour of death, then it’s quite likely you have dead rodents under the deck.
As dead mice or rats start to decay, they produce an unpleasant, strong, and overwhelming odour. This is due to a combination of chemicals that are released from the body after death, including methane, long-chain hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, and benzene derivatives. These gases mix together to produce a sickening smell. If you don’t remove the bodies, the stench could last for six to 12 weeks.
The smell might be slight for a few days, but it will get stronger with time as decomposition moves through its natural stages of decay. It will also be intensified due to location and temperature. The dead rodents will decompose at a faster rate under your deck during the spring or summer when the temperatures are higher. Astemperatures rise, the odour gets more intense.
2. You See Flies Coming in and out from under the Deck
Where there’s a decaying body, there are carrion flies. Carrion flies, like blow flies, lay their eggs on dead bodies. If you see flies coming in and out from under your deck, this is a sure sign of something dead underneath.
Your deck may now be a breeding ground for carrion flies. That’s why it’s important to know the signs of dead rodents under the deck.
3. You Have a Rodent Problem You’ve Been Ignoring
If rodents have infested your property, it’s important to take immediate action to remedy the situation. If you’ve identified any of the signs of wildlife in or around the home, such as scratching sounds or droppings, you may have had a rodent problem you were unaware of.
Not only do rodents carry diseases, breed quickly, and cause destruction to the home, but eventually they’re probably going to die on your property—that is, if you let the issue persist. Mice only have a one-year life expectancy, so nature will take its course eventually.
If you’re now smelling the odour of decaying animal bodies after having ignored a rodent infestation on your property, you likely have dead rodents under the deck.
4. You’ve Used Rodenticides
One of the telltale signs of dead rodents under the deck comes from the use of rodenticides. You might have used rat poisons to get rid of your rodent problem. But you might not have realized “solving” your rodent problem only lead to another, smellier problem.
If you’ve recently put out rodenticides for a mouse or rat problem, there’s a high likelihood that what you’re smelling comes from the result of the poison’s use. Likely the rodents have gone under your deck to die, and now you’re left with a big mess on your hands.
5. Your Deck Is Unprotected
Think there’s no way rodents could get under your deck? Think again. Mice only need a dime-sized hole to enter any area of your home. Look closely at your deck to determine if you have any cracks or holes big enough for rodents to get in. If so, combined with the smell of death and the appearance of flies, this is another confirmation that you have dead rodents under the deck.
If an animal has died under your deck, call an animal control company that offers dead animal removal services to take care of the problem.
Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!