Crawspace dangers from wildlife

Specific Inspection Topics Interior Inspections
1

Here’s some good information on how to stay safe in crawlspaces…

Lots of threats to being in crawlspaces. I would begin by reading our information on diseases. http://www.icwdm.org/

You should also do a literature search on our digital commons. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/icwdm/

Stephen Vantassel, Project Coordinator, CWCP, ACP
Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
School of Natural Resources
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
414 Hardin Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583-0974 U.S.A.

phone: 402-472-8961
fax: 402-472-2946
email: svantassel2@unl.edu
web site: http://icwdm.org
SNR website: http://snr.unl.edu

2

Thanks Kenton. I try to wear gloves in the crawl, even though it makes for clumsy fumbling with camera. Here’s a pic from this PM, why I like gloves. Can’t you almost smell it? Squirrel is my guess. :cool:

John Kogel
www.allsafehome.ca

CrawlspaceBuddy12.jpg

3

I am probably most concerned by HantaVirus myself.

4

:shock: Looks like HantaVirus can be inhailed when contaminated dust particles are present. As for me I never enter a crawl, or attic, without a decent respirator and filters.

5

Good info! :smiley:

6

Yeppers Vince, anywhere there are rodent droppings, sheds, pool heaters, crawls, attics, vacant houses, etc.

7

A mud fox from Friday’s crawl. :stuck_out_tongue:

I too wear the best mask I can get.
For a dirt crawl, rainpants and a rain jacket with elastic cuffs.

I know of a fellow who lost a lung from breathing dust in Mexico, probably Hantavirus in rodent droppings.

John Kogel
www.allsafehome.ca

CrawlspaceBuddy13.jpg

8

Some diseases which can be encountered in crawlspaces can enter through the mucous membranes around your eyes.