Use a screwdriver to remove the cover of the suspected air duct. Use a flashlight to look inside the duct and see if you can find the dead animal. If the distance to the dead animal is beyond a turn in the air duct, you will need a tool such as a telescoping inspection camera to find it.
It may take days or weeks for the carcass to dry out and the odor to naturally and completely disappear.
Get the Dead Animal Out
This could be a long hose attachment on a vacuum cleaner or something as simple as a bent coat hanger—just as long as you can use it to bring the dead mouse carcass within reach. Carefully use a gloved hand to deposit the animal in a plastic bag and immediately remove it from your home.
You'll have to turn off your HVAC system and remove all the vent covers. You'll need to load a trap for each vent. Most do-it-yourself-ers use snap traps baited with peanut butter, meat, or cheese. Place the trap just inside the vent and wait.
Signs of a dead animal in your air ducts
Unusual Odors: Noticing a strong, rotten smell coming from your vents that seems to get worse overtime? It could be a sign of a deceased animal.
The smell of a dead rat can be harmful to a person's health due to the toxic gases and microscopic compounds of the dead animal that are constantly being released into the indoor air. Since most homes are not consistently ventilated, the gases permeate into the respiratory tract and can potentially cause illness.
Removing dead rodents from your furnace ducting is no simple task. Homeowners often need to hire professional pest control, HVAC, and/or air duct technicians to remove the vermin and odors.
One of the worst things that can happen is having a dead animal in air duct. As it starts to decompose, its decaying body will flood the house with a horrible stench. Dead animals can also carry many viruses and bacteria that will enter the air that's being circulated throughout the living environment.
One of the worst things that can happen to your HVAC ducts is having a dead rodent get trapped inside. As its body starts decomposing, it will emit a rank odor that permeates the entire house.
Coffee grounds are a natural odour remover and can be used to eliminate the smell of dead mice. Dead mice are tough to remove from your home, especially if they have been there for a while. The smell will eventually fade, but it can take weeks or even months before it goes away.
Animals like squirrels, raccoons, and rodents can find their way into your house and into the ductwork. They can even make a new home in the ducts, which becomes a serious problem for your home. If you think you hear scratching coming from your ductwork, it's incredibly important to call professionals right away.
You may have to "follow your nose," and keep sniffing around until you find the area where the odor is strongest. Also, look for stains. Sometimes a carcass leaks fluid as it dries out. Death attracts insects.
It is usually difficult to remove them when they are inside a wall. A room deodorizer might help. The only way to get rid of the carcass would have to be by cutting into the wall. This may be difficult, as the odor may permeate through the walls and it is hard to localize the exact point to cut the wall.
Remove The Carcass
Removing the animal should be straightforward if it is close to the vents. All you need to do is open the barrier, reach in with your gloved hand, and put the dead body inside a plastic bag.
To remove the animal, you can also easily set traps around your home. You can set live traps near the vents in order to let the animal leave the ductwork and be captured humanely and removed alive from your home.
When mice are in your vents, you'll hear scratching, crawling, or scurrying on metal in the walls, ceilings, or floors where your ductwork is. You might also hear occasional squeaking noises.
Can you get sick from breathing in a dead animal smell? Smell does not usually contain bacteria, which carry disease and are much larger than the gaseous molecules that make up a smell. So the odor itself cannot make you sick.
Use a Vacuum: Take the hose of your vacuum and insert it as far as possible into the duct. Turn on the vacuum and move the nozzle around. Check the vacuum canister for your lost item. You can also try putting pantyhose around the vacuum opening and secure with a rubber band.
HOME AIR DUCTS CAN MAKE YOU SICK FROM MICE, DIRT OR PET HAIR. Dust, pollen, smoke, chemical sprays, mold, fungus and germs can build up in your furnace ductwork.
Landowners are responsible for removing dead animals from their private land.