Well before you take a hammer to the wall or search through the vents there is an easier solution to reducing and even eliminating the pungent odor from a dead mouse behind the wall or in a vent.
What does a dead mouse smell like in the wall.
We have been going though the basement to try to isolate the problem.
This smell is very much like you described how a dead mouse would smell.
A single mouse will only produce a negligible odor.
How to remove a dead mouse from your wall.
The odor of a dead mouse is a mix of sulfur dioxides methane and other noxious gases that are produced as tissue begins to decompose.
At first you re in a state of denial.
This photo might be cute but there isn t anything funny about dealing with dead mouse odors.
What do dead mice smell like.
If you can t find the offending animal or don t want to cut into your walls you ll have to do what you can to keep the odor contained and cover it up as much as possible it typically takes up to two weeks for the smell to fade but it can take longer for larger animals like raccoons.
Dead rodents will smell until their bodies completely decompose and dry out.
Thankfully there are multiple steps that you can take to get rid of dead animal smell in house.
But while your options are limited and the situation is extremely unpleasant don t panic.
While it s easiest to dispose of a dead mouse when you can find the corpse in plain sight it s still possible to get rid of rodents that are hidden in hard to reach areas.
The best way to eliminate the smell of a dead animal inside your wall is to find the animal and remove it.
Well the smell itself can t really hurt you but your nose.
I suggested to my husband just the other day that we should keep a log of the things you suggested.
If a rodent dies in a moist area the smell can last for weeks.
However a dead rat may produce a smell that can last for weeks.
тhe smelly carcass is emitting a pungent odour of decay and a bouquet of toxic gases like foul smelling of rotten cabbage thiols methane hydrogen sulphide ammonia and pyruvic acid.
The thought of animals decomposing behind your drywall is upsetting.
You might begin to notice a dead rodent smell as soon as 12 hours after death but it can take two to three days before it becomes strong enough that even the least sensitive nose will notice.
How long does it take for a dead mouse to start smelling.
The dead mouse smell is barely noticeable at first then impossible to ignore and it s coming from a source you cannot find or figure out.
Read more about this topic here to learn ways of getting mice out of walls air ducts and other typical rodent haunts.
Unfortunately this smell can be produced by any member of the rodent family mice rats etc that may have found its way into your walls attic or crawlspaces and died.
Other noxious gasses that smell like rotting food will join the mix as the decomposition speeds up.