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.
What does a dead mouse smell like.
Read more about this topic here to learn ways of getting mice out of walls air ducts and other typical rodent haunts.
If a rodent dies in a moist area the smell can last for weeks.
This photo might be cute but there isn t anything funny about dealing with dead mouse odors.
Dead rodents will smell until their bodies completely decompose and dry out.
I suggested to my husband just the other day that we should keep a log of the things you suggested.
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.
It is the disgusting sickening gut wrenching smell of death.
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.
Other noxious gasses that smell like rotting food will join the mix as the decomposition speeds up.
But while your options are limited and the situation is extremely unpleasant don t panic.
The best way to eliminate the smell of a dead animal inside your wall is to find the animal and remove it.
A single mouse will only produce a negligible odor.
This smell is very much like you described how a dead mouse would smell.
What do dead mice smell like.
However a dead rat may produce a smell that can last for weeks.
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.
At first you re in a state of denial.
How long does it take for a dead mouse to start smelling.
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.
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.
Well the smell itself can t really hurt you but your nose.
So thanks for the support on that.
The thought of animals decomposing behind your drywall is upsetting.
We have been going though the basement to try to isolate the problem.
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.