STUFF THE POISON SCREWED UP

At their log cabin, a terrible smell led to a grisly discovery.

The previous owners messed up by using poison for an infestation in the living space. Dead animals, even small mice, produce a very unpleasant odor for weeks, and if the carnage is concentrated, the smell lingers. You found (one) dead zone and can clean it up, but often the animals die in walls or other inaccessible areas.

The drawers are built into the eaves, so mice may have entered near the roof. In any event, you need to clean up, close off entry points, and set removable traps for any lingering occupants. Be careful in cleanup, or hire an exterminator for the whole sequence of jobs. Urine and feces carry diseases. (The CDC reports that mice and rats spread over 35 diseases, from Lyme disease to the plague, either through direct contact with feces, urine, and saliva— or the critter itself—or indirectly through ticks, fleas, and mites.) The odor may be difficult to remove. Try cleaning with baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or a proprietary enzymatic pet-urine product. Coat affected surfaces with a barrier like Kilz Max.

Two small holes were apparent in this case: one at the rear of the built-in and one near the baseboard. Mice can squeeze through a dime-size hole. They chew through paper, cardboard, even plastic. Seal up every possible entry point with a wood patch, steel wool, mesh, caulk, etc., especially at the roof, along the foundation, near windows and chimneys, and under sinks and appliances. Now set traps, remove the bodies regularly, and keep traps active for several months. Use them throughout the house; again, in the basement, kitchen, under the fridge, near exterior doors, etc.

Avoid rodenticides, especially second-generation anti-coagulation poisons, as they affect the entire food chain as well as pets and children. Don’t use antifreeze or ammonia.