Parent Goes To Clean Daughter’s Room—Horror at What They Find

A Reddit post has sparked concern and conversation after a parent cleaning their daughter’s bedroom following a family vacation discovered an unusual nest-like structure—later identified as evidence of a rodent infestation.

The post, shared by Reddit user u/HerMajestyJ on July 13 in the r/whatisit subreddit, is titled, “Cleaning my daughters depression room found this.” In follow-up comments, the poster confirmed that their daughter struggles with depression.

The post, which has had 29,000 upvotes since it was shared, includes photos of what appears to be a bird’s nest-style formation tucked in a cluttered corner. “We just got back from a two-week vacation and this wasn’t there before we left,” the parent wrote. “I’ve never seen this before in my life… we vacuumed it out.”

The debris was almost certainly left by rodents, an expert told Newsweek.

“This is from mice—they love insulation for nesting. Note the small droppings on the right side,” Blair Calder, founder and CEO of the Automatic Trap Company in Sonoma, California, told Newsweek.

He warned that such findings could pose more than just a nuisance. “Depending on where in the country… they need to be careful because deer mice carry hantavirus, which as everyone know killed Gene Hackman’s wife,” he said.

Earlier this year, the Hollywood legend and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home, along with their dog. Arakawa died from a respiratory illness linked to hantavirus, which is a rare disease transmitted by infected rodents. Hackman, who was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, died a week later.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also stresses the danger of rodent infestations, such as mice and rats, which can spread multiple diseases. “Rodent droppings, urine, and saliva can spread by breathing in air or eating food that is contaminated with rodent waste,” the CDC explains on its website. “Rodents can also carry ticks, mites, or fleas that can spread diseases.”

The CDC emphasizes the importance of prevention, noting that rodent-borne illness often occurs through infestations within the home. “Infestation of rodents in and around the home is the main reason disease spreads from rodents to people,” the agency states. “The best way to prevent a rodent infestation and contact with rodents is to remove food sources, water and items that provide shelter for rodents.”

To minimize risk, the CDC recommends regular inspection for gnaw marks and droppings—common indicators of rodent activity. “It’s easier to control rodents before they can establish themselves in your home or building,” the guidance reads.

The strange mass sparked hundreds of responses speculating on its origin, ranging from mold to ants to nesting birds.

U/Silly-Tumbleweed-338 said: “Looks like a mess left by carpenter ants. Mix of wood shavings, dead insect bits, etc.”

“It looks like an insect nest you should call an exterminator to remove it,” wrote u/RestlessRhys.

U/Preston-D noted: “I think mice got into your walls, looks like insulation material and mouse droppings with small shards of wood.”

U/Rexpertt agreed, saying: “I can see mice feces in that. Please call someone to get rid of them. Also, do not touch anything with bare hands. Use gloves.”

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.