How to safely clean up wildlife droppings in your home

When you notice scratching, scuttling, or thumping noises coming from your attic, crawlspace, or somewhere else it shouldn’t be, getting the uninvited critter out of your home is usually the first order of business. 

Summertime is peak season for bats, which are often looking for dark and warm places to give birth to their young; meanwhile, late fall and early winter are prime seasons for raccoons and rodents to find their way into your home, seeking a warm place to take refuge.

Pest control and wildlife removal professionals can help relocate these animals and prevent future entry to your home.

But what do you do with the mess left behind once the animal is gone and its point of entry has been sealed up?

Understanding the health and safety risks of wildlife feces cleanup

When left with hazardous materials like wildlife feces, urine, and nesting materials in areas like your attic or under your porch, your first instinct might be to get rid of it as soon as possible. But before grabbing a mask and gloves, it’s important to understand the health and safety risks of DIY cleanup.

Rodent droppings and hantavirus

Contact with rodent droppings, urine, or nesting materials can put you at risk for hantavirus, even if you don’t directly touch those materials. When dust contaminated with rodent droppings, urine, or nesting materials becomes airborne, the virus can be breathed in, leading to severe illness.

Raccoon feces and roundworm eggs

Some raccoons carry a parasite called roundworm in their intestines, and those roundworms produce millions of eggs that are then passed through raccoon feces. The microscopic eggs can survive for years, and if ingested by humans, can cause severe disease affecting major organs.

Bat guano and histoplasmosis

Bat droppings, or bat guano, can also be harmful, especially in larger amounts. Bat guano contains a fungus that releases spores into the air when disturbed (e.g., through sweeping, vacuuming, etc.). Inhaling those spores can cause a respiratory disease called histoplasmosis.

Cleaning up the contaminated area

When to DIY

Perhaps you’ve found a mouse in the pantry or scuttling across the floor in the basement. You might notice a few droppings here and there, but not many, and there are little to no signs of damage.

In cases like this, where the droppings are few, there’s little damage, and you’re dealing with minimal nesting materials or debris, you may choose to clean the area yourself. For DIY cleanup, be sure to take proper precautions and wear appropriate PPE like disposable gloves and shoe covers, safety glasses or goggles, an N95 respirator, long sleeves, and long pants.

Never sweep or vacuum the area dry, as this can stir up harmful particles and dust. Instead, always spray droppings and nesting materials with a disinfectant spray and let it soak for several minutes before wiping clean. Then place all droppings, debris, and contaminated cleanup supplies into a sealed plastic bag for disposal.

When to call a decontamination + cleanup professional

In cases where you’re dealing with lots of animal droppings, animal waste and damage spread out over a large area, evidence of an infestation, or substantial debris and nesting materials, the safest option is to call a professional cleanup and decontamination provider.

Professional cleanup and decontamination technicians will have the proper PPE and be trained in the appropriate cleaning methods needed to safely decontaminate the area, dispose of any contaminated materials, and ensure that the area is safe for reentry without PPE. They can also advise you on which contaminated items can be safely cleaned and which ones you will need to replace.

The bottom line for homeowners

Especially when you’re dealing with critters like raccoons and bats, calling a professional cleanup and decontamination provider is the safest path forward. 

At Umpire, we take great care to ensure you, your loved ones, and your home are safe – from handling hazardous materials to using pet-safe cleaning agents. If you’re ever unsure about the best next step, or if you have a situation on your hands you’d like to talk through, call us anytime – we’re always happy to answer your questions.