Dead Animal Removal & Odor Control
Serving Your Community
We operate in over 50 major cities. Simply enter your Zip Code and we’ll direct you to the nearest Trutech location.
It’s hard to describe the smell of a dead animal decomposing. But, that foul smell is immediately recognizable and usually a homeowner or business owner’s first clue that something has died in the walls, attic, or somewhere else on the property. When an animal dies within your walls, you need professional help to locate the animal and eliminate the risk of disease. How bad and how long the smell lasts depends on multiple conditions:
- The larger the animal, the more of it there is to decay, which means a stronger odor. A dead raccoon will have a stronger smell that lasts longer than a mouse.
- Different animal species have different odors.
- An animal that dies in a wall centrally located in the house will stink up the home more than one that has died in a corner of the attic close to a vent.
- The hotter the temperature is, the smellier the carcass will be. So basically, a dead rat in the wall will smell worse in summer than one that has died in winter. In addition, the smell can fluctuate depending on the time of day. In the evening, when cooler temperatures prevail, the smell might subside but then increase midday when the temperature heats up.
- High humidity will also increase the odor.
Unfortunately, the carcass will continue to smell until its body has completely dried out. But for health reasons, it is imperative to seek professional help to remove the dead animal.
Dead Animal Cleanup, Carcass Removal & Odor Control
Trutech Wildlife Control has been providing expert wildlife removal services for decades and prides itself on its commitment to sanitary, humane, and safe methods for dead animal removal.
Our technicians are fully trained to locate where in your home that dead animal stench is coming from. Then, whether the animal is indoors or outside, we remove the carcass.
We bring a pet-safe odor eliminator made of natural organisms and enzymes that eliminate the odor by consuming the decaying matter. When we cannot remove the source of the foul smell, we employ aerosols, oxidizing agents, foggers, and disinfectants with germicides to cover up the smell until the carcass is fully decomposed.
We can rid you of animal and wildlife problems safely and efficiently
When an animal enters a house, they tend to avoid humans and gravitate towards attics, basements, and voids within walls. If an animal were to die in your home, it tends to be in one of those locations. Property owners must be on the lookout for dead animals in their yards and homes. Proximity to animal carcasses leads to a variety of issues such as repugnant odors and an increased risk of contracting fatal or debilitating diseases.
In many ways, finding dead animals can be more unnerving than encountering infestations of living creatures.
How to find a dead animal in your house
Smell
The surest way to know if you have a dead animal hidden in your home is the smell. While animals can technically die anywhere in buildings or lawns, they seem to favor secluded locations with some form of cover.
Animal carcasses are frequently found inside building walls as well as in attics, sheds, and barns.
Appearance
The general appearance of an animal carcass depends on what type of animal died and how long the animal has been dead. Common pest animals that die in residential areas include squirrels, bats, chipmunks, mice, rats, various species of birds, raccoons, and skunks. Of the five stages of animal decay, property owners are most likely to come across fresh carcasses or ones passing through the bloat stage, which makes animals appear puffy.
Problems, Damage & Disease
The vile smell that accompanies decaying flesh is the most apparent problem associated with dead animals, but it is also the least harmful.
Property owners must be more concerned with the diseases animal carcasses are capable of spreading to nearby humans and pets. Individuals should never handle dead animals, as they may carry rabies or have worms. Bird carcasses are notorious for transmitting West Nile Virus. Additionally, decomposition attracts pest insects like flies, beetles, mites, moths, and even some wasp species.
Wildlife Exclusion
After dead animal removal, there is still a risk for animals to enter your home. To help prevent animals from entering your home:
- Seal all cracks with caulk
- Replace broken windows & door screens
- Install a proper chimney cap
- Buy tightly fitted lids for trash bins
- Remove debris from property
- Trim tree branches so nothing hangs over roofs
- Clean clutter from basement and attics
Ignoring exclusions and prevention leaves your property vulnerable to future wildlife pest infestations.
Can I get sick from breathing in a dead animal smell?
You can catch a disease from the dead animal smell itself. Your sense of smell developed to warn you about something dangerous. If it smells bad, it is bad for you.
Who to call for carcass removal?
Not only will most local animal control offices not enter private property to remove a dead animal, but they also will not clean up or disinfect your home.
Effective removal of dead animals entails the proper disposal of carcasses, disinfection of surrounding areas, and deodorization of the affected area.
You should never handle dead animals, even with gloves on, and improper burial may result in the contamination of ground water.
Property owners should rely on professional wildlife specialists to remove animal carcasses. Technicians have the tools necessary to safely, legally, and sanitarily dispose of any dead animals.
Can I bury a dead animal in my yard?
Regulations vary by city. A decomposing animal carcass could contaminate groundwater so make sure to review your local ordinances.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no one-size-fits-all solution; each job requires a custom approach. We inspect every home and build a custom plan to resolve any wildlife problems. We use a variety of techniques including cage traps, direct capture, one-way valves, and deterrents. Exclusion techniques are the most effective way to get rid of animals.
We provide customized solutions to each individual customer so that we may solve the issue as quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively as possible. The size of the house, type of animal, number of nuisance animals, and length of time of infestation affect the estimated price of wildlife removal.
An estimate may change based on the amount of animal activity or work needed to be done. All estimates are finalized with an exact price before any work begins.
Our goal is to remove any wildlife as humanely as possible — often that means catching and releasing the animal.
Trutech® does not hire subcontractors for animal removal services. We employ expert technicians who are provided ongoing education and training in all aspects of animal control and removal. Many of our technicians hold degrees in Wildlife Biology, Entomology (insects), Ornithology (birds) or Herpetology (reptiles), some with Masters degrees in their specialty field.
Yes! We are licensed and insured.
We start by first removing the wildlife on your property, and cleaning up any damage. From there we’ll work with you to create a customized prevention plan so you won’t have the same issue again.
Typically an animal dies in your home because it became trapped in a hard-to-reach and hidden area. Our expert technicians have the experience and knowledge to find it and then safely remove the carcass from your home.
Our Wildlife Technicians use a pet-safe odor eliminator made of natural organisms and enzymes that consume decaying organic odor-causing matter, eliminating the source of the lingering odor. We use aerosols, oxidizing agents, foggers, and disinfectants with germicides to deodorize until nature completes this task for you.
You should consider a full home exclusion after the smell has been neutralized. Nuisance wildlife found its way into your house once. That entrance leaves your home vulnerable to future animal infestations. Full home exclusions are the most effective form of wildlife control.
