So, you’ve finally tracked down the source of that lingering odour, and it turned out to be a dead rat. Bleugh, not how you were hoping to spend your day, right?
Fret not, as unpleasant as it may be, at some point in our lives, many of us have had to deal with disposing of a dead animal carcass, whether it be a rat, squirrel, bird or otherwise.
But before you go all gung-ho. You should be aware that rats are often carriers of disease and should disposed of correctly to help reduce the spread of contamination or infections from handling the corpse.
The goal of this article is to help inform you of the best way to dispose of a dead rat and help keep you, your family, and your pets safe.
The Dangers of a Dead Rat
First, let’s cover the dangers of dealing with a dead rat. Although this may seem a little alarmist, the bacteria, viruses, and parasites that rats can carry pose a severe risk to your health, as well as the health of your family and pets. Disposing of dead and decomposing animals should be approached carefully to minimise the transmission of disease due to incorrect handling.
Our recommended safety precautions are:
- Always wear gloves and don’t be tempted not touch the corpse with your bare hands.
- Wear a long-sleeved top and trousers to avoid parasites such as ticks or fleas.
- Minimise direct contact as much as possible. For example, scoop it up with a shovel, or use the inside of a thick bin bag to pick it up.
- Wear a face mask (especially if it’s inside) to help minimise breathing in any airborne particles.
- Keep children and pets away from the carcass.
- Seal bags or containers once you have placed the dead rat inside.
How do I dispose of a dead rat or mouse?
You have two options for disposing of a dead rat:
Bury it
Dig a deep whole and let it naturally complete the circle of life. If you have dogs or other pets that are prone to digging however, you may want to consider the next option.
Bin it.
A dead rat can be placed in a well-sealed bag and disposed of with your regular household rubbish that ends up in landfill. Just bear in mind that by the time you find it, there a good chance flies have laid their eggs and the corpse will eventually get infested with maggots. For that reason, make sure the corpse is well sealed to prevent maggots or flies escaping.
How to get rid of the smell from a dead rat?
Although unlikely a problem if the dead rat was outside, if however the dead rat was inside, you are likely going to find that the unpleasant smell of decay lingers. In order to help alleviate the smell, you are going to have to don some gloves and prepare for a deep cleaning of the area.
- Wear gloves
- Open windows to help air things out
- Clean up any juices with a cloth or paper towels (dispose of these when you are done with them)
- Use an enzymatic cleaner to clean the direct and surrounding area.
- Spray the area with disinfectant.
Need help controlling rats? Contact Go-Pest Environmental Services today for expert rat control in London and the surrounding counties.
