I agree it sounds disgusting but in truth many if not most older attics have the same or worse in them. If you don't detect odors I wouldn't worry about it. I would check to be certain ceiling fixtures, hvac vents and other penetrations are well sealed (as much for protection from airborne insulation and dust as the animal droppings).

This is the time to do it. Hire professionals do remove as they come garbed and masked for the task. They will also clean the walls and floor boards. When we bought this house, the insulation was disgusting. You got a good price...we paid $20,000 and our contractor took the walls down to the studs.

@judy_graham46 At this point I'm inclined to do it.

I'm inclined to think I'm getting a fair price, but not as great a one as you suggest. "Our contractor took the walls down to the studs" implies that you had walls to take down to the studs, in other words, a finished attic. I don't. There are no walls; there are no studs. The rafters meet the walls at the attic's floor level. Under the roof ridge, you kneel. Elsewhere, you crawl.

All the 2x lumber up there is actually called studs. It is the structure that holds your house up.

All the 2x lumber up there is actually called studs. It is the structure that holds your house up.

Most interesting cat_ky , it's not often we see anyone on this forum with this type knowledge so will you please tell us more? Where are rafters and ceiling joists located in single story homes? What is the lumber called that drywall is fastened to on walls?

@cat_ky Um, no. A wall's vertical members are called studs. The horizontal members at the top and bottom of the wall are the top and bottom plate. Short horizontal members between studs are blocks. Horizontal parts that support a floor or ceiling are joists. Parts that run up the slope of a roof are rafters, and the part that supports the ridgeline is the peak.

Obviously I'm simplifying things. There are a lot more names to know if you want to have windows, for example. If you google "compound roof framing parts diagram" you'll find pictures and text that explain a lot of this stuff.

Clear all the blown-in insulation when you get the new roof. When choosing new insulation, consider that it is much easier to find pest problems (such as a dead rat) by lifting up insulation batts than it is by shoveling up blown-in insulation. Do everything possible to block entry by rats and raccoons.

Rat and raccoon waste in insulation is a real health concern, especially if you disturb it. Since the roof is open, I would pay for the cleanup and re-insulation rather than risk airborne particles. Also check that every ceiling penetration is sealed. For estimating how much insulation you need after the work, I used calculatedhome.com and it made the bag count simple.