Roadkill

If there’s roadkill in front of your house, your local government agency should be able to pick it up for you, especially if there’s an obstruction in the road. This website allows you to select what state you’re in, then lets you specify where in that state you live to grab the local government agency and their phone number.

On Your Lawn

If the animal is on your property and not in the road or obstructing traffic, you’ll most likely have to take care of the problem yourself. Here are a few different ways to do that.

Burial

If you choose to bury the dead animal yourself, you’ll need a shovel and gloves. A cardboard box to place the dead animal in would help as well with moving it around. When digging the hole, make sure to dig it at least two feet deep. This will ensure that no scavengers can properly smell or dig for the carcass themselves.

While not everyone has easy access to a cremator, this can be a quick and clean strategy to eliminating your pest problem. Some local animal services might have a cremator, which can help remove the body in a clean and safe way.

Throw it out

Ask your local waste removal service if they allow dead animals into the trash. Most smaller critters, like field mice or voles, are most likely acceptable. Something larger like a racoon or a crow might not be allowed. Each service has their own rules and regulations on this, though, so checking before tossing is always a good idea.

Bring to Animal Services

Some local animal services will take in and dispose of a dead animal carcass. Always call ahead, though. Some places don’t take them, and some that do take them might have specific ways they want you to store and transport the body to them.