Something died in our basement

[MustISO]

Came home the other day and noticed something smelled a little off near the basement stairs. Went into the basement and smelled it a little stronger, went into our storage room and it was much stronger in there. Pulled everything away from the walls and found nothing.

This section is unfinished but does have insulation attached to the foundation/walls. Walls are poured concrete. Figured a mouse got in somehow and maybe got stuck in the insulation. Found two droppings near the area so a mouse has been there at some point.


I'd like to remove the carcass ASAP due to all the diseases they can carry, just not sure how to find it. My plan is to try and feel around the insulation and see if I can feel a lump and cut it out.

Walked the perimeter of the house and there's no easy access points that I could so. I know they can fit in very tiny spaces but the foundation comes up 1'-3' above ground and the only things coming inside are gas lines, phone, and AC. Those are a good 4ft off the ground and sealed with some type of putty that is completely hard and sealed well.

Garage is dry walled, where the drywall meets the cement is sealed with that expanding foam and has molding over top that is caulked but I suppose they could find a seam somewhere.

There are what I think are water drains sporadically in the brick, not sure what's on the other side of the brick so maybe they can go through these openings and chew through whatever is underneath.

Only way to get to the attic would be to run up the inside or outside of the downspouts that go to the roof which I suppose is possible. Had a roofing company up there last year re-sealing all the flanges and openings but I suppose if they can get to the roof they can find a way.

Going to go up into the attic and look around. There's a radon vent that goes from the basement to the roof, they could possibly travel down to the basement that way.

Bought some traps and some bait at the store as well as some more of the expanding foam in case I find any openings anywhere.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Feel for ya. The amount of stink even a small carcass can give is high. Very hard to find if they died in a wall.

I've used dehumidifier and lysol in the past to help mitigate. Nothing beats fresh air so open windows if possible. Fans. Lots of fans.

 

[mizzou]

Smell will go away eventually, but it's pretty awful to deal with. Their bodies are quite small so the stench won't soak into the drywall/carpet/etc. like a dead human would.

I think maybe several weeks to a month the body should dry up.

 

[HeXen]

You're house will now be haunted.
....by ghost mouse.

 

[MustISO]

The smell has decreased about 75% already. Did catch a mouse yesterday in a trap but the trap was empty when we first started smelling something.

Haven't found any nest or anything to indicate that there's a lot of them. There's certainly nothing for them to eat in the basement unless they like cardboard and plastic containers.

Spent some time yesterday walking around the outside again, cut back any bushes near the foundation. Still don't see any obvious access points from outside but if they are getting into the garage I could maybe see some access points but I have no idea what's on the other sides of the spaces I can see. I'm going to caulk or foam those spots up today just in case.

Going to head into the attic as well just to see if they're up there and making it into the basement.

 

[Slacker]

Smell will go away eventually, but it's pretty awful to deal with. Their bodies are quite small so the stench won't soak into the drywall/carpet/etc. like a dead human would.

I think maybe several weeks to a month the body should dry up.

What did you do! WHAT DID YOU DO!

 

[SparkyJJO]

You think a mouse smells bad, I got three chipmunks in my basement and two of them raided my mouse traps, injuring themselves in the process, and died. They're bigger than a mouse just enough to really stink.

 

[Greenman]

Had a mouse die in my kitchen wall, took me days and a lot of holes to find it. Preparing ones dinner in the stench of a dead rodent ruins the entire dinning experience. At one point I considered burning my kitchen down.

 

[MustISO]

Had a mouse die in my kitchen wall, took me days and a lot of holes to find it. Preparing ones dinner in the stench of a dead rodent ruins the entire dinning experience. At one point I considered burning my kitchen down.

I've considered moving (not seriously because moving sucks).

Caught another one over night. They keep going for the DCon traps with the nuts/peanut butter. Walked past the other two traps both times.

Smell is almost completely gone, not sure I can actually smell anything anymore or it may just be very faint. Considering having someone come in and remove the insulation in the unfinished portion just to see what's back there but concerned about containment of the insulation fibers and any mouse "matter" that could be in there.

 

[Elixer]

To get rid of the smell faster, nothing beats a enzyme eliminator.
That is what they use for crime scenes, kinda pricey, but, it does work.
Charcoal also works, but, you need to place it as close to the source of the smell as possible.