Welcome to Washington DC Dead Animal Removal! Got a terrible smell in your house, or do you see a dead critter on your property? We are an animal control company specializing in the removal of dead animals from your home, attic, basement, walls, yard, or any part of your property. You clearly don't want a dead animal in your house. Carcasses attract flies and give off terrible smells, not to mention the potential diseases rotting flesh can cause. Whenever we remove dead animals, we use 100% safe methods and make sure to disinfect your home and get rid of all traces of odor. Click here for Free Roadkill Removal and click here for Dead Pet Body Removal. For deceased wild animals in your home or property, call us anytime at 202-960-1753 to schedule an appointment for today! We come out fast! Some of the services we offer include:

Removal of the animal carcass is not the most glamorous job, but it is necessary, especially for those who live close to their natural habitat. Dead animals can turn up inside your property anytime. Our dead animal services can provide you with the best result at an affordable cost. We offer 24/7 services and ensure that our customers will have the support they need even during weekends and holidays. Unlike most of the contractors in this industry, we will never let you down. We are armed with the best equipment and tools, and we believe in doing this right at the first time. We will clean the mess, so you don't have to do it. Furthermore, we will also handle the proper disposal of the expired animal. We will prepare them for mass cremation and dispose of the ashes according to the state's regulations. We also understand the possible risks associated with it. We will decontaminate your place using a powerful yet safe solution that will not irritate your lungs or skin. We are committed to bringing you a safe and satisfying result. If you are not sure of what you are looking for, call us, and we have a professional team who will answer your questions.

What if you found roadkill or a dead animal such as a deer in a public place, and you want the city or District of Columbia County services to remove it for free? Click here for Free District of Columbia County Dead Animal Removal services. What if a farm animal like a horse, or your beloved pet dog or pet cat has died and you need the body taken away? Click here for Dead Pet Body Removal.

We are experts in dead animal removal, and take our job seriously. When removing dead animals, we do a COMPLETE job — not only do we remove the dead animal from your home or yard, we also decontaminate the area, deodorize it, and dispose of the animal or cremate it. If you aren't sure whether the stench in your house is due to a rotting carcass or another reason, we can sniff it out with our noses from our years of experience. We remove dead raccoons, dead opossums, dead skunks, dead squirrels, dead birds, even dead dogs and cats. We frequently remove dead rodents from inside walls, because poison kills rats and mice, who die in your house. We completely solve your dead animal problem by taking these steps:

• Sniff out the dead animal if it is somewhere in your home
• When necessary, for example if the animal is in a wall or under your house, cut a hole to remove the animal
• Remove the dead animal, safely and completely (and seal the hole if needed)
• Finish the job by decontaminating and deodorizing your home
• Properly dispose of the dead animal through incineration or other means
• Prevent it from happening again by finding out how they got in your house

Dead animal carcass removal is specialty work. Sometimes the job is simple, such as a dead opossum in the yard, in which case we can simply wear our gloves and respirator mask, bag the carcass, and take it away for incineration. Sometimes this is more complex, such as when the dead animal is under a home crawlspace, under a porch or deck or shed. Or if the animal is larger, such as a dog or a deer. The most complex cases are dead animals inside the house. The animal may have died inside the attic, or down in the walls, or the duct work, or any other part of the architecture. You may have a bad smell in your home, and you're not even sure what's causing it. We've removed not just dead animals, but rotting food, bad mold, etc. We specialize in locating the source of the smell, and we very commonly cut a hole in the ceiling or wall to remove the animal. We remove every bit of the carcass, mop up the juices, vacuum the maggots, spray it and wipe it down with disinfectant, cleaner, and we repair the hole we cut. In some cases we use ozone machines to neutralize odor.

Washington DC Dead Animal Tip:

Why Do Opossums Die Under Houses? How to Remove.

For weeks you noticed ripped garbage bags and a messy lawn. You've got a possum. But then, all of a sudden, the problem seems to go away. No more litter being thrown everywhere. Fantastic, you think. The problem solved itself.


Except: you gradually begin to notice an odd smell when you leave for work in the morning. Day by day, it grows worse. Somehow, somewhere the opossum has died. Likely in the crawlspace.

But why do opossums die under houses?

Nesting location

To a possum, a crawlspace presents the ideal home, particularly for female opossums. They need a location with plenty of space that also offers protection from potential predators. Typically, they'd bunker down under a pile of rocks or deep under some tree roots in the wild. However, venture around your neighborhood, and you'll struggle to find such habitats.

That's where the crawlspace comes in. It's not just a replacement; it's a substantial upgrade. Many creatures use crawl spaces as potential homes, including raccoons, skunks, foxes, and even a wily coyote. For one thing, crawlspaces are extremely common.

The cause of death

That explains why they live there, but why do they die there?

Well, like humans, most animals prefer to die in the comfort of their homes. When you're sick or injured, you don't venture out on a cold day. You head for the warm protection of your bed and blankets. Opossums are no different. For animals, illness or sickness is a double-dose of danger. Not only are they at risk from the disease, but also predators in their vulnerable state. That's why they'll happily stay out of their way. 

Then, when they fail to recover, you uncover a dead body beneath your house.

However, that's not the only reason. Some opossums may have ingested poison you've placed around the garden. Poisons don't act rapidly, as many people expect. Instead, they can take many hours to take effect, causing unbearable pain. During this time, an opossum – like for illness or injury – will seek refuge in their dens. Therefore, that's where they end up dying.

The final most likely reason is that a homeowner has eagerly sealed up an entryway to a crawl space. By doing so, they trap the opossum inside. Unable to access food or water, the opossum slowly dies of starvation or dehydration. Then, a few days later, the homeowner notices the smell and realizes what's happened.

What to do if an opossum dies beneath your house

The first sign you'll notice is a smell that's markedly more pungent outside than inside. Do a complete inspection of your property, looking beneath wood stores, in outbuildings, and crawl spaces. While we're talking about underneath houses, animals could have died anywhere. 

Use your sense of smell to locate the carcass. If the carcass is below your house, inspect the crawlspace with a flashlight. Get a good idea of where the carcass is and think of an easy method of removal. Beware of venturing straight in to pull it out. A carcass may attract scavengers, or other opossums could still be living in the location. In either situation, you don't want to be attacked. 

Next, wear full protective equipment – including thick rubber gloves – and have a heavy-duty plastic bag ready. Remove the carcass using a garden tool, such as a rake, if far away. Otherwise, reach in and drag it out. Then, place the carcass into the bag. Seal the bag up and thoroughly clean the area affected. Using an enzyme cleaner and potent disinfectants is sensible. You may also spread a deodorizer such as baking soda solution or charcoal briquettes.

Finally, contact your local animal control for details on disposing of the carcass.

Alternatively, if you find removal too difficult or other animals are still present, contact your local pest control service. They will have specialized equipment available for all situations and dispose of the carcass as per the local regulations. They'll also be able to advise on preventing further possums or animals from entering your house.

Either way, you'll now need to close the entry hole and wait for the smell to dissipate.



We service nearby towns such as Adams Morgan, Anacostia, Brookland, Capitol Hill, Capitol Riverfront, Columbia Heights, Congress Heights, Downtown, Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, H Street NE, Ivy City, Logan Circle, Maryland, Mount Vernon Square, National Mall, NoMa, Penn Quarter & Chinatown, Petworth, Shaw, Southwest & The Wharf, U Street, Virginia, Woodley Park.