Gross Smell = Trapped Dead Animal

A couple weeks ago now, I began to smell something unpleasant in the bathroom. I was afraid it was because I had left a wet diaper in the garbage can and was feeling rather embarrassed that I had caused the smell. We promptly took out the trash. But the smell continued to get worse each day. We couldn't place it. Finally, after about a week, we put some of our background experiences together and were able to place it as a dead animal. Gross. I mean, GROSS. Trapped under the house...dead...decaying. That's nasty. But what can you do?

The smell got worse. The putrid hours turned into days. Febreeze, Glade, and scented candles could do nothing to abate the horror. One day, Marcus came home and said, "I'm going in. I've got to get rid of whatever it is under there." (What a brave soul.) Scotty was with Marcus and willingly offered to help. (What another brave soul...because there's no way in Hades that I'd be going under the house to find a dead animal. No sir-ee.) For details on the extraction, check out Scott's post on their blog. He goes into detail.

Our fears were confirmed...a possum lay dead (not playing dead)...barely beginning the decay process. This smell would have been HORRIFIC within a week. I can't imagine. It was roughly the size of Callie from head to tip of tail. I get the heebie jeebies thinking of it. I'm sorry for the fate of that animal, but am so grateful that it's now able to peacefully decay on it's own in the field behind the house.