DEAD ANIMAL REMOVAL
Dead Animal Removal in Central Florida
A smell you can't place, or an animal that died in a wall, attic, crawl space or vent? We find it, remove it and treat the area.
- Walls, attics, crawl spaces
- Odor treatment
- Same-Day Service
- Free Inspection
- 4.7 Google Rating
- Same-Day Service
- Free Inspection
- Sealed for Good
How do you get rid of a dead animal smell in the house?
Find the animal and remove it. Air fresheners only cover the smell, and in Florida heat it gets worse fast. The source is usually in a wall, attic, crawl space or vent. We locate it, bag and remove it, and find how the animal got in. Call (844) 264-6254.
- Find the source
- Gloves and bags
- Remove the animal
- Find the way in
Signs
Signs of a dead animal in your house
Many people never see the animal. They notice everything around it.
A smell that's strongest in one spot
A sweet, rotten smell that's worse in one room, closet or along one wall, and doesn't go away with cleaning.
Flies indoors
Flies gathering at a window, a light or a vent, when doors and windows have been closed.
A stain on a wall or ceiling
A damp or dark spot on drywall or a ceiling below the attic.
Noises that stopped
Scratching in the attic or walls that went quiet a few days before the smell started.
Smell from vents
An odor that comes out when the A/C runs can point to an animal in or near the ductwork.
Smell from the car
FWC notes squirrels nest in and chew wiring in cars that sit unused. A smell from the vents or under the hood is worth checking.
Why it matters
Why a dead animal shouldn't be left to dry out
Waiting it out is tempting. In a hot Florida attic or wall, it means weeks of smell and a stained, contaminated spot when it's done.
- Health. The CDC says the risk from animal carcasses is low if proper precautions are taken: gloves, bagging the remains and washing up. In an attic or crawl space, that work comes with insulation, droppings and tight spaces.
- Rabies questions. After a possible exposure, Florida's Department of Health says to contact your county health department or animal control right away. If the animal is dead, don't damage the head and avoid further contact: it may be tested for rabies.
- A sign of a bigger problem. An animal that died inside got in somewhere. Where there was one rat or squirrel, there may be others, and the gap is still open.
How we do it
Our dead animal removal process
- 1
Follow the smell
We trace the odor, flies and stains to the spot, then check the attic, crawl space, walls and vents near it.
- 2
Remove the animal
Gloved, bagged and sealed, following the CDC's handling steps. If it's inside a finished wall, we make the smallest opening that gets it out, and tell you before cutting.
We don't patch drywall: the owner arranges that repair with a contractor.
- 3
Show you the spot
We show you where the animal was and any soiled insulation around it, so you know what a contractor may need to replace.
- 4
Find the way in
We look for how the animal got inside, so you're not doing this again next month. If it's a rat, squirrel or bat problem, we tell you and quote the fix.
Doing it yourself
If you find a dead animal in the open
The CDC's own advice is simple: don't touch dead animals with bare hands, and call animal control to remove them. If you do have to move a small animal in the yard or garage yourself, these steps are adapted from the CDC's disaster cleanup guidance:
- Put on gloves. Don't touch the animal with bare hands.
- Cover your gloved hand with a plastic trash bag, pick up the remains, turn the bag over them and seal it. Use a shovel for larger animals, then rinse it.
- Call your local animal control for pickup instructions.
- Wash your hands.
If it's a bat, a raccoon, or any animal a person or pet may have touched, stop. Florida's Department of Health says to contact your county health department or animal control right away, avoid further contact, and not damage the head so it can be tested. See the CDC's guidance and the Florida Department of Health rabies page.
After removal
Removed and closed up
Removing the animal is the main job, and the rest is making sure the smell and the cause are gone too.
- Remains bagged and removed from the property
- Soiled insulation around the spot pointed out
- Entry point found and the fix explained
Cost
What dead animal removal costs depends on
Where it is
Open crawl space, attic, chimney or vent, or inside a finished wall.
Finding it
A clear smell to follow, or a search through several spaces.
Size of the animal
A rat, an opossum or something larger.
Where it is
Out in the open in an attic, or inside a finished wall.
Areas served
Dead animal removal in 8 counties
Homes, businesses and rentals across Central Florida and the counties around it.
- Pinellas County
- Clearwater
- Dunedin
- Tarpon Springs
- Hillsborough County
- Brandon
- Plant City
- Lutz
- Carrollwood
- Town 'n' Country
- New Tampa
- Keystone
- Greater Northdale
- New Port Richey
- Land O' Lakes
- Dade City
- Hernando County
- Spring Hill
- Citrus County
- Crystal River
- Lecanto
- Sumter County
- Bushnell
- Ocala
- Dunnellon
- Summerfield
- Lakeland
- Bartow
- St. Petersburg
- Palm Harbor
- Largo
- Pinellas Park
- Tampa
- Riverview
- Odessa
- Westchase
- Citrus Park
- Temple Terrace
- Cheval
- Lake Magdalene
- Pasco County
- Trinity
- Hudson
- Wesley Chapel
- Brooksville
- Weeki Wachee
- Inverness
- Homosassa
- Pine Ridge
- Wildwood
- Marion County
- Belleview
- Silver Springs
- Polk County
- Winter Haven
- Haines City
Reviews
What customers say
- ★★★★★
Brandon came out of his way to help remove a raccoon who had decided to use my front door mat for nap. Brandon was very polite and professional. He removed Ralph without issue and pretty quickly.
Cassandra Bronzo
- ★★★★★
There's a first time for everything! Somehow a snake made it's way into our office building and chose my office to hang out. I called Pro Wildlife on Sunday and explained it to the tech. They arranged the appointment to come and remove it for today @ 9am. The tech Zak Brooks arrived and got the snake out very quickly! He was friendly and professional!! Definitely recommend and we'd use them again if needed! Thank you again!
April Daves
- ★★★★★
Josh came out & removed a dead cat from my engine that had been there for over six months! Absolutely no one else would do the job and other places said they couldn’t even find the animal. Josh found it and removed it with ease. I can’t thank him enough!
Allyson Hill
FAQ
Dead animal removal questions
How long does a dead animal smell last?
It depends on the animal's size, where it is and the heat. A larger animal in a hot attic lasts far longer than a mouse in a cool crawl space. Removing it is the only way to end it quickly.
Can you find an animal inside a wall?
Usually, yes. We trace the smell, flies and staining to the spot, then open the smallest area needed. We'll tell you before any cutting.
Is it dangerous to be around a dead animal?
The CDC says the risk from animal carcasses is low if you take proper precautions: gloves, bagging the remains and washing your hands. Don't touch one bare-handed, and keep children and pets away.
How do I dispose of a dead cat or dog in my yard?
The CDC's disposal steps for dead animals apply: wear gloves, slip a plastic bag over your hand, pick the animal up, turn the bag inside out and seal it, and use a shovel for a larger animal. Its guidance also says to call animal control. Wash your hands afterwards. If the animal is somewhere you can't reach, call (844) 264-6254.
What if it's a bat?
Don't throw it away, and don't touch it. The CDC says to contact animal control or your health department to capture a bat for testing, not to release it, and to report any contact. If it's already dead, Florida's Department of Health asks that the head not be damaged.
Do you remove dead animals from under the house or in the yard?
If it's on a public road, call your city or county instead.
Will you find out why it died in my house?
We'll find how it got in. Animals that die in attics and walls are often rats, squirrels or bats that were living there, so we check for others and for the open gap.
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Related services
Smell something you can't find?
Call (844) 264-6254. Our wildlife experts will find it and get it out.
Serving Central Florida: Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Polk and Marion counties.