Dropping Removal

Getting Rid of Wildlife Droppings

Often, animals that are inhabiting your attic may leave a large number of droppings behind. The droppings and urine can act as a carrier for diseases like leptospirosis, salmonella, and more. It's safest to stay away from animals droppings and urine and leave the cleanup to the experts at Wildlife X Team® San Antonio. Call today! 830.253.2810

Which Animal Droppings are Dangerous?

Bat Droppings (Guano)

Bat droppings, known as guano, are actually used as a rich fertilizer in some areas because of the high levels of nitrogen. Unfortunately, guano is extremely likely to also carry spores of histoplasmosis, which is easily transmitted through inhalation of said spores. Histoplasmosis can be fatal, especially for those with a compromised immune system. Bat guano is about the size of a single grain of rice, and is dark in color. It's often found in insulation.

Rodents

Rodent-transmitted diseases like Hantavirus and leptospirosis are often a result of handling or inhaling spores from rodent droppings. Common symptoms of Hantavirus include fatigue, fever, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, to name a few. Once the rat droppings dry, they are far more likely to spread spores. Other diseases transmitted through rodent feces includes salmonellosis.

How to Identify Mouse & Rat Poop

Mouse poop is similar in form to a grain of rice, but is about half the size. The droppings are dark brown/black and slowly turn to a gray color over a longer period of time. A single mouse is known to leave up to 75 droppings behind in a day. Mice usually leave these droppings along their commonly-traveled paths, though rarely in their nest. Rat poop, on the other hand, is about twice the size of mouse poop—about the size of a grain of rice, though thicker.

Squirrels

Squirrel feces and urine can be harmful to humans because of its ability to carry and transmit diseases like salmonellosis, leptospirosis, rabies and even secondary pests like ticks and fleas. Squirrel poop can often be tricky to identify because it is similar in appearance to rat droppings—around 1/4–1/2" long and 1/8" around. Like other wildlife feces, squirrel droppings can pose an even bigger threat once they start breeding mold, and the scent of the droppings will also bring in more squirrels. Squirrel droppings start to get lighter in color once they age, so this can be a clue as to how long the squirrel has been in the area. Squirrel droppings are often found in areas that squirrels frequent in homes, like attics.

Raccoon

Raccoons are a critter who maintain a fine line between their living area and where they relieve themselves. Their "latrine", as it is known, is likely to contain raccoon roundworm eggs, which when consumed by humans, can lead to eye diseases, brain damage—or in severe cases—death.

Inside your home, raccoons often locate their latrines in attics and roofs. Raccoon droppings are sometimes mistaken for dog feces due to their size and shape. Raccoon feces often has berries in it, as they are a major part of raccoon diets.

What to Do If You See Animal Droppings

• Do not vacuum up the droppings—especially if they are dried, they are likely to be easily inhaled
• Do not touch or otherwise handle the droppings. Diseases like Hantavirus, leptospirosis, raccoon roundworm, salmonella are just some of the possible illnesses you could contract from coming into contact with any number of wildlife animals' feces.
   
• Do air out the area and keep pets and family members away
• Do call us! 830.253.2810