Is that a Dead Rat I'm Smelling!
And If Not What is It?
Phew! Something not very pleasant smelling has reached the sensory hairs of my nose. What is that awful smell?
This was a question my husband and I were trying to figure out when we lived in our former home.
I take extra care in keeping our home smelling inviting and welcoming. So when all of our efforts to rid our home of this putrid smell became futile, we became quite frustrated. Wait a minute. Was it perhaps something that had fallen in back of the washing machine and dryer? Negative. Is the trash bin covered tightly? Check. Besides we put old bones and scraps in the freezer until garbage day. Is it the plumbing gone awry? No, everything is in pristine condition as far as that is concerned.
Sniff sniff!! Our noses then led us outdoors. It was in the heat of a very hot July summer. Whew! The fragrance has now seemingly become more ripe. We kneel by the deck and Bingo. There's the culprit. Just under our deck is an opening. Cushioned beneath is, well how do I say this delicately -- a dead opossum. Yikes!!
What do we do now? "You get rid of it". "No you get rid of it" went the conversation between my husband and I. Finally Jack, our neighbor who lived across the street came over. We told him of our dilemma. He quietly went home, returned with a pair of gloves and trash bag and placed the victim in the bag. We thanked him profusely.
I thought about this story when a lady mentioned to me how a raccoon had kept her hostage for six weeks in her home while enjoying the delicious amenities in the basement. It was finally realized that the raccoon was going through her chimney during the night. And I thought my situation was bad.
We have since moved from that house. So far, there have been no opossum sightings. While I enjoy seeing wildlife, I'm not too keen on the idea of it being in my backyard. I guess that's what happens when you were raised in the city.
SOURCE:
Personal experience
This was a question my husband and I were trying to figure out when we lived in our former home.
I take extra care in keeping our home smelling inviting and welcoming. So when all of our efforts to rid our home of this putrid smell became futile, we became quite frustrated. Wait a minute. Was it perhaps something that had fallen in back of the washing machine and dryer? Negative. Is the trash bin covered tightly? Check. Besides we put old bones and scraps in the freezer until garbage day. Is it the plumbing gone awry? No, everything is in pristine condition as far as that is concerned.
Sniff sniff!! Our noses then led us outdoors. It was in the heat of a very hot July summer. Whew! The fragrance has now seemingly become more ripe. We kneel by the deck and Bingo. There's the culprit. Just under our deck is an opening. Cushioned beneath is, well how do I say this delicately -- a dead opossum. Yikes!!
What do we do now? "You get rid of it". "No you get rid of it" went the conversation between my husband and I. Finally Jack, our neighbor who lived across the street came over. We told him of our dilemma. He quietly went home, returned with a pair of gloves and trash bag and placed the victim in the bag. We thanked him profusely.
I thought about this story when a lady mentioned to me how a raccoon had kept her hostage for six weeks in her home while enjoying the delicious amenities in the basement. It was finally realized that the raccoon was going through her chimney during the night. And I thought my situation was bad.
We have since moved from that house. So far, there have been no opossum sightings. While I enjoy seeing wildlife, I'm not too keen on the idea of it being in my backyard. I guess that's what happens when you were raised in the city.
SOURCE:
Personal experience
Published by Lee Hansen
I am a woman who enjoys the simple things in life. My parents raised 10 children. I have an Associate Degree in Medical Office Assisting as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Education. View profile
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24 Comments
Post a Commentyikes!
We get a lot of skunks in our neighborhood.
Great article.
Yeeesh! What a terrible find! Great article, though, thanks!
I hate any bad smell. Haven't had any dead animals though.
Interesting story! Glad your neighbor helped you get rid of it. One time we had the same problem ... turned out to be fish head one of our cats had dragged under the deck.
I know that feeling...
Eww. Dead animal smell is the worst. There was the smell of dead animal outside when we were working outside this past weekend. We looked everywhere. Then I walked to a completely different part of the yard far away and still smelled it, so I figured it was just some country smell all over. It went away the next day. Who knows what it was.
Yuck.
Well done - I would like to skip the experience.