Whether your beloved family pet has gifted you a very generous (if slightly gross) offering, or you’ve encountered a deceased rodent in your home or garden, it’s essential to handle the situation carefully.
In this article, we’ll walk you through exactly what to do when you discover one. Is it dangerous to touch? What risks are involved? Can it make you sick?
Read on and we’ll explain everything you need to know about dealing with an unwanted rodent carcass in or around your home or business.
So, What to Do If You Find a Rat Carcass?
What’s the right response? Here’s what not to do:
- Don’t touch it!
- Don’t pick it up by the tail and toss it at your wife!
- Don’t poke it with a stick!
All jokes aside, dead animals – especially rats – can pose serious health risks to you and your family. Proper precautions must be taken, and disposal should be handled promptly and safely.
We’ll go over how to get rid of one shortly. But first, let’s look at the risks. After reading the next few sections, you’ll avoid touching a rodent corpse like… well, the plague!
Is it bad to touch a dead rat?
Yes – it’s a definite no. There is never a good reason to touch a rodent carcass with bare hands. In fact, even inhaling air around one can be harmful to your health. Keep your distance!
Can the Carcass Make You Sick?
Absolutely. Contact with a rodent’s remains or its fluids puts you at risk of contracting various diseases, including hantavirus, salmonella, and leptospirosis. This risk is even greater for young children, so always remain vigilant.
How to locate that dead rat in your home?
Suspect there’s a deceased rat somewhere but can’t find it? Follow your nose. The smell is pungent and unmistakable – it should help you track it down.
That being said, the last thing you want to do is start knocking holes in walls or ripping up floorboards on a whim. The safest and most effective means of action is to call the expert pest control services and have them locate the carcass on your behalf. Our team has years of experience locating rodents in even the trickiest of spots.
How to safely dispose of the carcasses
Ideally, you should call your local pest control expert to handle the removal for you.
Not only that, a single carcass might be a clear sign of a potential rodent infestation so it’s worth hiring the experts to conduct some additional tests just to be on the safe side. You may well get rid of one dead rodent by yourself easily enough, but ridding your home of a large rat infestation is another story entirely.
However, if you would rather not have to wait and would like to dispose of it yourself as quickly and as safely as possible, here are some safety precautions for you to follow…
Safety precautions when disposing of a dead rat in your home
Rats, whether alive or dead, can carry all kinds of nasty bacteria and parasites. Even in death, they pose serious health risks. Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Wear latex or rubber gloves – Never touch remains directly with bare hands.
- Dress appropriately – Wear long sleeves and trousers to protect against fleas and ticks.
- Use tools where possible – A trash picker or litter grabber can help. Clean thoroughly with bleach and alcohol after use.
- Wear a HEPA mask – To prevent inhaling harmful particles. No mask? Wrap your face with a scarf and breathe through your nose.
- Keep children and pets away – Until disposal is complete.
- Be sure to seal any containers or trash bags as soon as possible after placing the carcass inside. Then you will be able to properly dispose of it in the trash – then place it outside in your bins ready for collection.
- Alternatively, you can bury them at the bottom of your garden, as long as it’s deep and away from pets or veggie gardens.
- When finished, jump in a hot shower, wash your body thoroughly and put your clothes on a high-temperature wash.
- HIRE THE PROFESSIONALS: again, it may be worth avoiding the carcasses altogether and leaving the disposal to the experts. Better safe than sorry.
Conclusion
And that about sums it up! If you choose to handle things yourself, follow the safety precautions listed above to the letter, be extremely cautious and follow the steps above closely. Or, if you’re located in Sydney and would prefer expert help, simply contact us today and we’ll send a pest control specialist to your property immediately.
