For a dead animal in your yard, call your local animal control department first; in most cities you can also submit the request through 311 by phone or app. Whether a crew comes out depends on the species, the size of the animal, and whether your municipality handles pickups on private property. If animal control doesn’t cover your situation, they’ll tell you who does, which is usually public works, your state fish and wildlife agency, or in a few cases the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Who to Call by Animal Type
The species decides the agency.
- Small wildlife or stray pets (squirrels, rabbits, cats, small dogs): local animal control. Most municipalities include dead animal pickup in animal control’s duties, and many will come out for smaller carcasses at no charge.
- Animals on a public road or sidewalk: your city or county public works or sanitation department. Roadkill on public property is almost always a government crew’s job.
- Large wildlife (deer, coyotes): start with animal control, but you may be routed to your state’s fish and wildlife agency. Some states explicitly do not remove dead wildlife on private land, which leaves it to the property owner or a licensed wildlife control agent.
- Livestock (cattle, horses, goats): contact animal control and your state’s department of agriculture or livestock board. They can help identify the owner, who is typically responsible for disposal.
- Eagles, hawks, or other protected birds: do not move the bird. Call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
If you’re not sure which department handles dead animals where you live, 311 is a reliable starting point. The operator will either dispatch a crew or redirect you.
Protected Species Need Different Handling
Federal law restricts who can touch the remains of certain wildlife, even after the animal is dead. Bald eagles and golden eagles fall under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and dead eagles must be reported to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement officer. The remains cannot be collected, moved, or kept without specific authorization.1U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Handling and Distribution of Bald and Golden Eagles and Parts
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act extends similar protections to hundreds of native bird species, including songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors. Possessing the remains of a covered species without a permit is prohibited, even if you simply picked it up from your lawn. If you find a dead bird you can’t identify, leave it in place and contact the Fish and Wildlife Service or your state wildlife agency.2U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Living Around Birds
What to Have Ready When You Call
Agencies prioritize pickups based on disease risk and foot traffic, so a few details speed things up. Have your street address, where in the yard the animal is (front lawn, backyard near the fence, under a deck), what kind of animal it is or your best guess, and roughly how large it is. If the animal looked sick before it died, or if you see foaming around the mouth or other unusual signs, say so.
When You Have to Handle It Yourself
In many areas, the property owner is ultimately responsible for dead animals on their own land. If animal control won’t come to private property, or the wait is several days, you have three realistic options: bag it for trash disposal, bury it, or hire a private service.
For bag disposal, double-bag the animal in heavy-gauge plastic (not thin grocery bags) using a long-handled shovel so you never touch it. Wear heavy-duty rubber or nitrile gloves and a face mask, and bag and throw away the gloves afterward rather than reusing them. Wash your hands with soap and water even if you wore gloves, and disinfect the shovel.
Local rules decide what happens next. Some municipalities allow bagged small-animal remains in regular household trash. Others prohibit it and require you to take the remains to a designated solid waste facility. Check your city or county waste management website before anything goes into the bin.
Burying It in the Yard
Backyard burial is legal in many areas for small animals, but the requirements are stricter than most people assume. The EPA recommends a minimum pit depth of four feet for small animals, with at least two feet of soil over the carcass. For larger animals like dogs or livestock, the pit should be at least six feet deep with four feet of soil cover.3Environmental Protection Agency. Animal Carcasses Disposal Guidance Shallow burial is the common mistake. Bury too close to the surface and scavengers will dig the animal up within days.
Location matters as much as depth. Burial sites should be well away from wells, streams, ponds, and other water sources to prevent contamination from decomposition leachate, and many jurisdictions require setbacks of several hundred feet from domestic wells and surface water. Burial has to be on your own property, not in public rights-of-way or common areas. Check whether your municipality or HOA has specific burial restrictions before you dig.
Hiring a Private Service
When the animal is large, hard to reach, or somewhere you can’t safely manage, private wildlife removal companies will handle it for a fee. Expect roughly $150 to $250 for a standard residential pickup of a single animal, with prices higher for larger carcasses, difficult access like crawl spaces, or situations that need decontamination of the surrounding area. Pest control companies and wildlife control operators both offer this service. Search for “dead animal removal” with your city name, and confirm the price before anyone comes out.
Health Risks and Safety
Carcasses can carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites that outlast the animal, and the fleas and ticks already on the body will actively seek a new host.
Rabies is the headline risk. Raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes are the most common carriers in the United States.4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies Prevention and Control The virus can survive in tissue after death, and any contact with saliva or neural tissue from an infected animal is dangerous. Call animal control for a dead raccoon, bat, skunk, or fox rather than handling it yourself, especially if the animal was behaving strangely or had contact with a person or pet while still alive.
Tularemia is another serious concern with dead rabbits and rodents. The CDC warns against handling these animals with bare hands, and even mowing over a small carcass in your yard can aerosolize bacteria.5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Tularemia Plague, though rare, has also been transmitted to humans through direct skin contact with infected animal carcasses, particularly when the person had cuts on their hands.6Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Plague Transmission from Corpses and Carcasses
The simplest rule: don’t touch the animal with bare hands. Keep children and pets away from the area until it’s removed. If a dog or cat has already been nosing around the carcass, check them for fleas and ticks and wash the area of contact.
Don’t Leave It Sitting
Decomposition attracts flies, maggots, scavengers, and sometimes rodents, which creates a second pest problem on top of the first. Smell intensifies quickly in warm weather and travels to neighboring properties. Many municipalities classify an unattended carcass as a nuisance or health code violation, and some issue fines if the property owner doesn’t dispose of it within a set timeframe. Acting within 24 to 48 hours of discovery avoids most of these problems and makes the physical removal easier.