Dead Raccoon Carcass Removal

07.08.2003 - This is a very simple dead animal removal. In fact, one might think that this is a very common sort of dead animal removal job. However, this was actually pretty rare. It's not very often that I arrive at a house with a dead animal that is simply lying outside. Most of the time I'm called because a homeowner smells a terrible stench somewhere inside the house, and it's my job to find and remove it. Removing the animal is always the easy part - the finding is usually the tricky part. I suppose that most of the time, if an animal is simply lyinggvb dead outside that the homeowner deals with it by him/herself, perhaps by burying it. But from time to time, I'm called out to remove it and dispose of the carcass.

The other thing that made this job rare is that I normally deal with dead rats and opossums and even cats. I never have to remove dead armadillos, and I'm rarely called to remove dead raccoons. It's possible that this is because raccoons don't breed as quickly as rats or possums, and they live longer lives, so there's simply fewer dead carcasses. But more than that, rats and opossums seem to choose to die inside houses if they die a natural death. Raccoons don't. I don't know where raccoons go to die, but it's rarely on human property. However, in this exceptional case, the raccoon just up and died right here on the ground, where I came and gave a blessing and a prayer and gently wrapped it in a plastic bag and cremated it and spread the ashes across the seven seas and continents. Then I looked over the mountains and waters and thought about the fleeting nature of life, and called my mom.

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North America is no stranger to mammals such as raccoons which are found in almost each and every state. Raccoons mostly live in forests but in some cases, their search for food and sustenance makes them uninvited guests on one's property. One might see them in or around their locality in the urban area. The removal of these animals when alive and breathing is not that hard of a task. It can be as easy as keeping the garbage away and the environment clean. The access of these animals can also be denied by blocking all the small openings that lead way into the property. However, the removal of raccoons or any such mammal can be an extremely difficult and daunting task to fulfill when the animals are dead. If one finds a dead raccoon on their premises they should proceed with caution as the diseases the animal carries can cause severe complications and put the health of a person at risk. It is a well-known fact the raccoons are considered as rabid animals and have a high chance of carrying this disease with them.

Rabies can be harmful to humans. In addition, the feces of the raccoon carry roundworms that can damage the heart, liver, lungs, brains, and eyes. It is also important to mention that roundworms are resistant to disinfectants. In such a case the soil or the place where the raccoon laid dead must be burned or ensure the removal of the roundworm by pouring boiling hot water. Keeping in mind all these diseases may complicate and put one in harm's way. It is recommended to avoid any and all physical contact with the dead animal. If the need arises one must only contact professional wildlife removers to move the dead raccoon out of the locality so that it may no longer contaminate the environment and attract other predators and diseases.

Raccoons are known to have a lifespan of nearly 20 years if kept in captivity, however, the raccoons which live in the wild may have a shorter lifespan of nearly 2 to 4 years. Raccoons can die from a number of reasons which include hunting by predators such as coyotes, bobcats, etc. The raccoons which find their way into the urban area may die from the unavailability and lack of food. Another reason that causes the demise of the animals includes being run over by vehicles. The problem of removing the dead animal from the locality can be neutralized by sealing all openings present in the property. This provides the premises with safety from the wild animals and keeps the locality clear from all problems that may arise due to the presence of these animals.