Update: CREATURE IN MY WALL

S

sblordita

Cathlete
Thanks to all of you that have helped me with all of this. I just wanted to let you know that there is no real update, except that I'm certain it's mice now. There is definitely a decomposing animal in there now, and more alive in the wall. I called them again this morning at the instant I started hearing them scratch and move around, but by the time the guy got here, they wouldn't make a sound. So, even though you can smell them, he didn't really want to believe me.

I've had two maintenance guys over, the maintenance manager, and an exterminator coming over soon. They REFUSE, I mean absolutely REFUSE, to get into that wall and either save the live animals or remove the dead ones. I wanted to get somebody over here to just put a hole in the wall and fix the problem, however if the infestation is in somebody else's apartment, I won't be fixing the problem anyway, and then allowing them access into the house. Until the root of the problem is fixed, and it's a building of six units, putting a hole into my wall isn't the answer. I certainly have no authorization to send somebody into other people's apartments, nor can I afford that.

I said I was going to the campus lawyer, and I have made an appointment for Tuesday (he's not there on Monday). .

I'm actually about to do some research about Colorado laws to see if there's anything they're obligated to do. I unfortunately don't have a lawyer's mind so it's hard to find this information out on my own!

I'm STILL determined to move, but I'm running out of time, and options are bad. I'm not giving up yet, though! I've had it with this place, and I just don't have the experience to know what to do.

Thanks again for letting me vent. I'll let you know if this problem ever gets solved.
 
You poor thing! There is nothing worse than hearing something crawling around in your walls! :eek: When we first moved into our house, we heard a weird crunching noise in one of our bedroom walls. If you knocked on the wall at all, it would get really loud. Just a little "munching" sound. We finally put two and two together when we saw Yellow Jackets flying to and from the window in that bedroom. They had literally chewed their way into our interior wall and had a mega nest in there. We ended up drilling holes in the wall and spraying bee killer. Boy did that make them mad! They started buzzing so loud, you could hear them in the other room. Eventually, we killed them all, DH sealed the hole around the window and we've never had a problem again. It's a nightmare not knowing what it is at first though! My imagination was all over the place. Luckily the bees didn't stink once they died. It sounds like you are going to have to have some more invasive work done to clean out the deceased mice and get rid of the live ones. Hope you find someone to come out who is more helpful! :( It really sounds like the apartment building owners should be taking some responsibility for this!
 
I am so sorry for you! I cannot believe you have to live with the smell of a decomposing, dead animal in your apt! x( x(

I hope you can find a solution AND move!!!!

Mary
 
Okay, so if they're in your walls, they're probably getting into your cabinets or actually in your apartment. So, if they won't help you solve the problem, here's what you do: Get some mouse bait and set it along the wall in the corner. You can also set it inside a cabinet against the the side/in the corner. Just make sure to clear everything out of that cabinet. Let the mice come get the bait and take it back to their nest. I mean, if they're dying in the walls, anyway, what's a little more carnage? Oh, if you have pets, you might not want to set the bait out on the floor.

But mice are pretty clever and can get out of just about anywhere before dying, so I'm thinking you might have baby squirrels in your wall. And they aren't as good about finding a way out. Especially as they get bigger. We had baby squirrels in our walls and had to get the animal guy out to our house. Got'em all out, thank goodness.

Does Colorado have a Board of Health? Call them out and see how fast your landlord solves the problem. Landlords and businesses don't dilly-dally when the Board of Health or some other government agency gets involved. Those government agencies can quickly condemn a property and shut it down or assess serious fines and mandate correctional construction...and little landlord will lose his/her livelihood just like that.
 
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I would never have thought of the Board of Health. I will do that right now. I don't know if Colorado does or not, but I'll find out. That at least gives me someplace to go, and hopefully some backup.

These apartments are, though, unfortunately owned and run by a HUGE corporation. It owns thousands of apartments, condos, and homes in this small area. More, actually. My particular complex has thousands of apartments alone. That's part of the problem and why they're so hard to fight. But I'm on it anyway.

Sara
 
Coming from someone who lived w/a serious mouse infestation, I think they're more likely squirrels than mice. My exterminator told me that, based on the amount of bait the rodents in my house were consuming, I had at least 40 of them living in my house. :eek: And while I SAW them all the time (they used to have their nocturnal playtime on my LR floor--they had absolutely no fear of me or my dogs) I never heard them. Mice usually live top-bottom, they like attics & basements.

Squirrels, OTOH, will live in your walls. When I sold my house the buyer was trying to squeeze me for squirrels, I had to hire an exterminator to certify I did not have them, & he said I'd know b/c you can hear them running through the walls. So there ya go.

The good news is they don't typically come into your living space. They'll find a convenient--as in near a hole in the roof or wall--place to nest, but they have no interest in your food or anything else in your home.

The bad news is they're still dirty, and they still smell if they die in the wall. EW!

Your local and/or state health dept. can't help you if it's private property, other than to force your landlord to get an exterminator. That's not to say it isn't worth a phone call, esp. if your landlord is refusing to hire an exterminator. Squirrels are MUCH easier to get rid of than mice. Once they're out of the house, it's just a matter of finding the hole where they're entering & plugging it up. Call your town's or county's health officer first--always start w/the level of government closest to you.

Good luck!
 
Oh this just "stinks" for you (pardon the pun), but I hope your situation gets resolved soon!
Angela:)
 
Well, I stayed awake all day to wait for the exterminator that was supposed to come at 10:00. I gave up, but he finally showed up around 2:00 (I'm just thrilled somebody actually showed up! Normally, they don't). Anyway, he spent a long time searching for a hole where they could come in. They are perplexed because it's an indoor wall, and see no opening. The stupid thing won't make any noise while these guys are around, either!! So they seem as though they don't believe me that it is loud and possibly a larger animal. Anyway, he searched the building, inside and out, but, once again, nobody is checking other people's apartments.

So far, nothing. But he's going to come back on Monday to set traps. I see no evidence of any mice inside, however, I'll take any help they're actually willing to give. I am still going to see the lawyer asap just to get his opinion and see if I can push them to go further.

Having them actually respond to my call this time gives me a bit more hope. And I would terminate my lease if I could, but we can't find any other place to live! And we've been looking like crazy :( The market here is crazy in the best of times, and we're far from good times.

Thanks guys
 
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