Finding a dead animal on your property can be distressing, particularly when the carcass is inside a roof void, wall cavity or subfloor. A carcass can produce strong odours and attract flies or other scavenging pests as it decomposes.
Although disease transmission from wildlife to people is uncommon, the risk increases when someone directly handles a sick, injured or dead animal. Keep children and pets away, avoid direct contact and arrange appropriate removal or reporting based on the animal and its location.
This guide explains the immediate steps to take and when to contact Newcastle Pest Exterminators, your local council or a government biosecurity service.
Why Dead Animal Removal Is Important
A decomposing animal can create a persistent odour and attract flies, beetles and scavenging animals. Fluids may also contaminate nearby insulation or other porous materials.
The appropriate response depends on:
- The animal species
- Whether it is on public or private property
- Whether it can be reached safely
- Whether several animals have died in the same area
- Whether the animal is a bat, bird or protected native species
- Whether illness or poisoning may have caused the death
Do not enter an unsafe roof, confined space or electrical area to retrieve a carcass. If the animal is difficult to access or you cannot identify it safely from a distance, contact an appropriate professional.
What to Do if You Find a Dead Animal
1. Keep Your Distance
Do not touch the animal with bare hands. Keep children and pets away, and do not allow pets to sniff, lick or eat the carcass.
Avoid disturbing the surrounding area if poisoning, disease or deliberate harm may have caused the death.
2. Identify the Animal From a Safe Distance
If possible, observe the animal without touching or moving it. Take a photograph from a safe distance and note its location.
Do not closely approach a snake to determine whether it is alive. A motionless snake may still be alive, and handling any snake creates an avoidable bite risk.
Never handle a dead or injured bat. Australian bats can carry Australian bat lyssavirus. Only appropriately trained and vaccinated wildlife handlers should handle them. If a bat scratches or bites someone, immediately wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and seek urgent medical advice.
3. Check Whether the Animal Must Be Reported
Contact the relevant local council when the animal is on a council-managed road, footpath, park or reserve. Responsibilities vary between councils, and some councils do not collect animals from private property.
If you find sick or dead birds, marine mammals or other wildlife and suspect disease, avoid contact and report the incident through the NSW Government’s bird flu reporting service or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Reporting is particularly important when several animals have died together or when birds or wildlife show unusual illness or behaviour.
4. Arrange Safe Removal
For a carcass on private property, contact a professional removal provider if:
- The animal is inside a roof, wall or subfloor
- You cannot reach it without entering an unsafe area
- The species is unknown
- The carcass has begun decomposing
- Fluids have contaminated insulation or another porous material
- You have concerns about infection, poison or hazardous exposure
A local veterinarian may advise about a deceased domestic pet. A licensed wildlife organisation or the relevant government authority may need to assist with protected native wildlife.
5. Clean the Affected Area
After removing the carcass, clean and disinfect contaminated hard surfaces using an appropriate product and its label directions. Porous materials, such as heavily contaminated insulation, may need removal rather than surface cleaning.
Place disposable gloves and contaminated cleaning materials into a sealed bag. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after removing gloves.
If the animal or its fluids contacted broken skin, eyes or mouth, seek medical advice. Contact the NSW Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 if poisoning may be involved.
6. Address the Entry Point
After removal, inspect the area for gaps that may have allowed the animal to enter. Seal suitable openings only after confirming that no live animals or dependent young remain inside.
Also secure rubbish, pet food and other attractants. Where protected wildlife is involved, seek professional advice before installing barriers or modifying an active nesting or roosting site.
Our Deceased Animal Removal Services
Possum Removal
Possums may die inside roof voids, subfloors or other difficult-to-access parts of a building. The resulting odour may be the first sign that an animal has died.
Because possums are protected native wildlife in NSW, avoid handling or relocating a live possum without appropriate authorisation. For a deceased possum inside a building, our dead animal removal service can assess access and remove the carcass where it is safe and practical to do so.
After removal, the affected area may require cleaning, deodorising or replacement of contaminated porous material. Any entry point should only be sealed after confirming that no live possums or dependent young remain inside.
Dead or Unresponsive Snakes
Do not touch a snake that appears dead or unresponsive. From a safe distance, contact a licensed snake catcher or another appropriately trained professional for advice and removal.
Do not attempt to identify the snake by handling its head, mouth or body. If anyone receives a suspected snake bite, call Triple Zero (000) immediately, apply a pressure-immobilisation bandage and keep the person still while waiting for an ambulance.
Dead Bird Removal and Reporting
Do not touch a sick or dead bird with bare hands, and keep children and pets away from the bird and its surroundings.
If you find several dead birds together, a bird showing unusual signs before death or wildlife suspected of having H5 bird flu, record what you see from a safe distance. Take photographs if it is safe and note the location, species and number of affected animals.
Report the incident through the NSW Government’s bird flu information and reporting page or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 before moving the carcass.
For an isolated dead bird on private property that does not meet the reporting criteria, follow current NSW Government or local council disposal advice. A professional removal service can assist when the bird is inside a roof, wall cavity or another inaccessible area.
Arrange Professional Dead Animal Removal
If a carcass is inside a roof void, wall cavity, subfloor or another difficult-to-access area, contact Newcastle Pest Exterminators to discuss professional removal.
Tell our team where you noticed the odour or animal, what species you suspect and whether the area is safely accessible. If the animal is on public property, is a bat or involves multiple sick or dead birds or wildlife, contact the appropriate council, wildlife or NSW biosecurity authority first.
