Hey everyone,
I’ve been struggling with a rat problem in my garage and finally managed to trap a few. But now I’m terrified of handling the carcasses! Last week, I tried using a plastic bag without gloves and ended up with a nasty rash. Worse, my dog nearly dug one out of the trash!
My failed attempts:
Nitrile gloves + N95 mask are a must! Soak carcasses in 1:10 bleach solution for 30 mins before handling. CDC-approved for killing hantavirus. Keep pets locked up during cleanup!
@SafetyFirst1 Skip bleach, it’s toxic to soil. Use hydrogen peroxide 3% instead. Works on viruses, breaks down into water. Double-bag rats in compostable bags for landfill trips.
Virkon S veterinary disinfectant kills parvovirus and leptospirosis. Spray the area, wait 10 mins, then wipe. Safe once dry, but keep pets away until fully evaporated!
White vinegar + tea tree oil mix! Cheaper and pet-safe. Tested it after my cat dragged in a rat, no smells or stains.
Burning rats violates EPA Clean Air Act in most states. Burying? Check local codes, some counties require 18-inch depth + lime. I got fined $500 for a ‘backyard cremation.’
@LawGuru Municipal biohazard bins are your friend! Call your waste department, many offer free pickup for dead rodents. Bagged mine in autoclave bags labeled ‘biohazard.’ No questions asked!
Bury carcasses under crushed red pepper + chicken wire. Raccoons hate the spice and can’t dig through metal. My trash stays rat-free (and raccoon-free)!
Ammonia-soaked rags near disposal sites! Scavengers bolt from the smell. Just don’t let your dog near it, mine rolled in it and reeked for days.
Organize a neighborhood disposal day with a rented incinerator. Split the cost! We did this after a ratpocalypse, cleaned 50+ carcasses and grilled burgers after.
Composting rats in high-heat composters (160°F+). Breaks down safely in weeks! Health Dept freaked until I showed them the USDA guidelines. Now they’re weirdly impressed.
Absolutely spot-on, @SafetyFirst1 Nitrile gloves and an N95 mask are essential. That bleach soak is a game-changer for killing viruses before any contact.
@EcoWarrior1 Great call using hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach, soil-friendly and breaks down naturally. Double-bagging in compostable trash bags makes sense.
Exactly! After I handle a carcass, I spray the spot with disinfectant, wash tools thoroughly, and seal everything in a trash bag before disposal.
@SafetyFirst1 That bleach soak advice is solid, but I supplement with a quick wipe-down using a mix of vinegar and tea tree oil when kids or pets are in the house.
I use compostable double bags for disposal, but always double-check local rules, some areas actually pick up the carcasses if you tag them correctly.
Adding crushed red pepper and chicken wire over the burial spot is brilliant for deterring raccoons. My trash area stays clean and critter-free.
@NeighborWatch That neighborhood cleanup idea is gold. We pooled for a small incinerator rental last fall and it was efficient, safe, and even became a mini-block party.
Spraying Virkon S after disposal adds a layer of biosecurity that’s easy to overlook, but it’s gentle and super effective against pathogens.
My hot compost system hits 160°F consistently, throwing the carcass in there plus some lime turns it into clean, usable humus in a few weeks.