. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We are Boston Wildlife, and we solve conflicts between people and wild animals. From squirrels in your attic, to raccoons in your trash, to bats, rats, birds, and snakes, we do it all. We specialize in safe and effective solutions to Massachusetts critter problems. We service the greater Boston region, and we offer fast service - we can usually schedule a same-day appointment. Give us a call at 617-337-3413 any time, 24/7, and we will discuss your unique wild animal problem, and give you a free price quote over the phone. We're ready to take your call now!

Our service range: We service Middlesex County, Norfolk County, Essex County, Plymouth County, and more. We also service Andover, Arlington, Attleboro, Beverly, Billerica, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Brookline, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Concord, Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, Danvers, Dartmouth, Derry, Dover, Dracut, East Providence, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Franklin, Gloucester, Haverhill, Johnston, Lawrence, Leominster, Lexington, Lynn, Malden, Marlborough, Marshfield, Medford, Melrose, Merrimack, Methuen, Milford, Milton, Nashua, Natick, Needham, New Bedford, Newport, Newton, North Andover, North Attleboro, North Kingstown, North Providence, Norwood, Pawtucket, Peabody, Plymouth, Quincy, Revere, Rochester, Salem, Saugus, Shrewsbury, Somerville, South Kingstown, Stoughton, Taunton, Tewksbury, Wakefield, Waltham, Warwick, Watertown, Wellesley, West Warwick, Weymouth, Woburn, Woonsocket, and more.

Boston Wildlife Education: Eliminating the Odor of Animal Feces in the Attic

Attics are the perfect place for animals to live without being noticed. It is typically an area that has fallen into disuse or is simply used to store things. This means that it has a very limited amount of foot traffic. The sound of animals on the ceiling above you is often the first sign that an animal has taken up residence. Other times there is a pungent odor coming from the area where they have set up camp. If this is the case, you are in for a lot of work.



Removing animal feces
The most important thing to remember is that animal feces can transmit a multitude of diseases to humans. Most of these are transmitted by contact and by breathing in contaminated dust particles. In order to prevent this from happening you should wear the appropriate safety gear before you attempt to clean the area.

Safety gear should include:
• Gloves to protect your hands from contamination. Also, wash your hands immediately after you have cleaned up the area and make sure that there are no tears in your gloves.
• A mask to protect you from breathing in the dust. A simple mask can be purchased at the drugstore or hardware store if it is a relatively small cleanup. As soon as the risk increases (larger amounts of feces) you should purchase a suitable mask.
• Protective eyewear may seem overkill, but dust that gets into your eyes can be just as dangerous.

You will need to have a few supplies on hand to make the process easier on yourself.
• Heavy duty trash bags that tie with a string is the most convenient. Others will work, as long as the plastic is strong enough. You don’t want it tearing on your way to the dumpster and spilling all over your home.
• A shovel is a handy tool to use to pick up large pieces of feces that is present. It also prevents you from touching it with your hands. Make sure to disinfect the shovel afterward.
• Disposable clothes will be imperative when you are washing the floors. You can also use a mop for this, but you will need to discard it after you have used it. It will contaminate the rest of your home if you use it again.
• Vacuum the area thoroughly to make sure that no dust is left behind. All cracks and crevices should be cleaned.
• Mix hydrogen peroxide or vinegar with water and drench the area. Once you have made sure that the whole area has been properly disinfected, you can open the windows to let it air. If there are not enough windows for proper ventilation, you can use fans to circulate the air.

All of this should help to eliminate the odor that has been left behind. If you find that the odor is lingering you can purchase a few odor-removing bags. These can be placed in the attic and will have your home smelling fresh again in no time.

Previous Education Articles
Cost of Boston Raccoon Removal
How to Remove a Boston Skunk From Anywhere in a House
Where Should I Relocate a Trapped Wild Boston Animal?
What Kind of Noises and Sounds do Boston Bats Make When They Live in Your House?