Wenatchee Home Inspections

I dealt with hazardous chemicals such as flammables, toxics, corrosives and many times a combination of those.  Then there was the radioactive spills, giving a much deeper meaning to the term “Hot-lanta”. And on occasion a biological release was something to deal with but those were typically not as often and in my case not as scary.



                                                                   

As a home inspector it has it hazards from potential electrical shock, to some chemicals and then the one most often encountered hazards...Poo. This could be from rodents, cats, humans or others.

So during this home inspection I encountered another of the poo palaces called a latrine. This comes with an infestation of Raccoons. Raccoons often leave their feces in communal sites called latrines.

From the dictionary-
Latrine (n)- a toilet or outhouse, especially a communal one in a camp or barracks.

In this crawlspace I found several latrines, typically in the corners. The issue with Raccoon feces is it is fairly large, almost dog like poo. No fun for me or the person who get to clean this all up.

The thing to remember is that raccoon feces can pose a health hazard. Raccoons can carry roundworm, Baylisascaris Procyonis, a parasite that affects both people and pets mainly dogs.

Routes of entry for this disease can occur by ingestion, contact with the eyes or inhalation of the eggs. Infection of humans can lead to larval parasites, which affect the central nervous system.

In addition to roundworm the Raccoon can also carry Giardia lamblia, this is a protozoan causing diarrhea, and is caused by ingesting food or water contaminated by raccoon excrement. Many know this as “Beaver Fever”.

From the CDC-

Baylisascaris infection is caused by a roundworm found in raccoons. This roundworm can infect people as well as a variety of other animals, including dogs. Human infections are rare, but can be severe if the parasites invade the eye (ocular larva migrans), organs (visceral larva migrans) or the brain (neural larva migrans).

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/raccoons/tips/raccoon_latrines.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.”

Confucius

If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection-  Bellingham Technical College

WA Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                                   509-670-9572

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