Dead animal in the shop

paul heller · Post by **paul heller** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:17 am

Perhaps use one of those masks with the two filter cans? You know --- the ones that are used for toxic chemicals. I forget what they are called. At least it would allow you to get back there to find the dead animal.

Awful story. Good luck.

Paul

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:38 am

I would go with the dog idea. Dogs just love to roll in things that stink. Let a dog in your shop and watch him when he gets all excited and starts rubbing his nose on something grab him. The dead whatever will right there.

Second best idea is let a vulture in your shop. A good hungry vulture will seek out the died carcass and clean up the mess real quick.

If both these fail use gasoline. Slosh some in your shop, and toss in a match. Let the fire get well established before you call the fire department and tell your insurance you were trying to rid the place of a rotten smell.

baddlad · Post by **baddlad** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:21 am

I had a dead rat in my attic that I couldn't find, and it was raining maggots in the kitchen making my wife crazy with bleaching everything so I was motivated. Anyway I called an exterminator and they seem to be good at finding dead things. It was worth the money not too much maybe $70 or so.
Still couldn't make a sandwich on the counter under that light where the maggots were falling for a month after. Good luck though I remember the stench well.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:34 pm

1) Use any of the methods given to LOCATE the dead animal.

2) Remove the dead animal.

3) Apply rubbing alcohol to any item that still smells. It works pretty much instantly, but knot until you remove the cause.

Your only other choice is to put up with the smell until it goes away on it's own.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:55 am

You guys all got clear off course on this one.

The only way to deal with oders in the wood shop is a quick big project using aromatic red ceder...

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:02 am

I didn't see Dusty weigh in on this one then I thought, heck, how long does it take to completely mummify a dead varmint in Tuscon? Maybe an hour?

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:50 pm

robinson46176 wrote:I didn't see Dusty weigh in on this one then I thought, heck, how long does it take to completely mummify a dead varmint in Tuscon? Maybe an hour?

Once dead the stench becomes noticeable in a hurry but for some reason it doesn't diminish in a hurry.

Almost always, when I have that problem, it is the result of a pack rat that has gotten into the poisoned bait. I have had that problem for a couple years now but I believe I may be seeing some success in my efforts to drive them away.

Within the boundary of my property, I have eliminated all of the neat places for them to build nests. I have cut all of the cactus so that you can see under it (no place for them to hide). I have eliminated all of the rock piles (eliminating nesting locations). I have cut all of the cactus back away from the foundation and the the fences (making it easy for the bobcats and cyotes to move fast).

But even then I smell a dead rat now and then.

I'm hoping now for a couple bull snakes to take up residence and that will eliminate the rats.

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:38 pm

dusty wrote:Once dead the stench becomes noticeable in a hurry but for some reason it doesn't diminish in a hurry.

Almost always, when I have that problem, it is the result of a pack rat that has gotten into the poisoned bait. I have had that problem for a couple years now but I believe I may be seeing some success in my efforts to drive them away.

Within the boundary of my property, I have eliminated all of the neat places for them to build nests. I have cut all of the cactus so that you can see under it (no place for them to hide). I have eliminated all of the rock piles (eliminating nesting locations). I have cut all of the cactus back away from the foundation and the the fences (making it easy for the bobcats and cyotes to move fast).

But even then I smell a dead rat now and then.

I'm hoping now for a couple bull snakes to take up residence and that will eliminate the rats.

Dusty,
Get a book called Going Back to Bisbee. Written by a resident of the Old Pueblo. In it he tells a hilarious story about his battles with rock squirrels and his eventual savior. Your bull snake isn't too far off the mark.
Gene

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 4:51 pm

Mark
HOW does the shop smell now?

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:06 pm

beeg

It is much better although I never found any remains. I have left the back door open with a fan running since the discovery. I can actually walk through there without gaging. In another week it will probably just be a bad memory.