Edgewater for homeowners
- Jurisdiction
- City of Edgewater in Jefferson County, not Denver. Code questions and some animal calls go to Edgewater.
- Housing
- Many small brick and frame homes from the 1940s and 1950s, plus modern duplexes and townhomes replacing older houses.
- Neighbors
- Sloan Lake Park to the east, Lakewood to the west and south.
- Wildlife
- Raccoons, squirrels, rodents, skunks and birds from the lakeshore and alleys.
What is typical in Edgewater houses
Postwar Edgewater houses are compact, often with a crawl space or partial basement and a short attic above. Foundation vents without screens, gaps where utility lines enter, and garages that open to alleys give mice and rats easy access. A rodent that dies under the floor in a small house is noticeable in every room within a few days.
New duplexes and townhomes built on scraped lots are tighter, but construction gaps at roof lines, unscreened soffit returns and bird nesting in dryer and bath fan vents are common. Shared walls in attached units mean an odor can come from a neighbor's side.
Edgewater's location between the lake and busy commercial corridors means wildlife moves through alleys at night. Trash stored against a house and gaps under sheds draw animals close to foundations.
Who to call first
- IfA live animal is inside the house or crawl spaceThenContact a licensed wildlife control operator, or Edgewater's city services for guidance; do not seal openings yet.
- IfThe smell is decay and nothing is movingThenLocate the area of strongest odor and decide whether the source is reachable before calling anyone.
- IfThe carcass is in a shared wall of an attached homeThenTell your neighbor and the association in writing before anyone opens a wall.
- IfThe animal is a bat or something that touched a personThenCall Jefferson County Public Health or a medical provider about rabies risk.
Small houses, quick odor
In a compact Edgewater house, the whole living area may be only a few rooms over one crawl space. A rodent that dies under the floor can be smelled everywhere within a day or two, which makes locating it by smell harder. Checking the crawl space directly, from the access hatch with a strong light, is often faster than mapping room by room.
Afterward, screening foundation vents, sealing pipe gaps and keeping the crawl space access door tight are the main defenses.
Common questions
Does Denver Animal Protection serve Edgewater?
Edgewater is a separate city. Check the City of Edgewater for its animal services and code contacts.
General information for Sloan's Lake, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.