So you finally got a kill, eh? Nice work! When you are done doing your victory dance, the next thing to figure out is what to do with it. Given the number of infectious diseases that rodents can carry (see article Why Rats Are Dangerous which also applies to mice) these next steps should not be taken lightly.
You need to be extremely careful when disposing of a dead rodent. I would highly suggest that you review this article from the Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) that covers many aspect on how to clean up after rodents. Here is an excerpt form the article that specifically addresses how to dispose of dead rodents (as of 5/10/17):
“Dead Rodents or Nests
Wear rubber, latex, or vinyl gloves when cleaning up dead rodents or nests.
- Spray the dead rodent or nest and the surrounding area with a disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water.
- Soak rodent, nesting materials or droppings in solution for 5 minutes before wiping up with a paper towel or rag.
- Place the dead rodent or nesting materials in a plastic bag and seal tightly. Place the full bag in a second plastic bag and seal.
- Throw the bag into a covered trash can that is regularly emptied.
Remove gloves, and thoroughly wash hands with soap and water (or use a waterless alcohol-based hand rub when soap is not available and hands are not visibly soiled).”
Please be sure to follow the recommendations of the CDC when disposing a dead rodent. If you are cleaning up a dead rodent you might also need to know how to properly clean up after rodent droppings. See article How To Clean Rodent Droppings.
Great job again on your recent victory. Please remember though that the battle has just begun. It is super important to continue to keep your defenses up and to continue to make your car a miserable place for rodents. Rats give birth to new rat babies every 3-4 weeks and mice give birth about every 3 weeks. It is only a matter a time until the next wave of attacks comes in so, pat yourself on the back, and keep your game face on.
I hope this information has been helpful. If you have any questions/comments please add below!
Thank you!!
-Rat King Dave
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