Animal Carcass Disposal Options

Read the below do-it-yourself advice first, but if you need to hire help, we perform dead animal removal services in over 500 US locations - updated for year 2024.

Author: Philip J. Nichols

It is the middle of July. You have a soon to be stinky, groundhog carcass. Or worse yet, your fleet of technicians are bringing in multiple dead creatures. How do you get rid of it/them? The options available have legalities, practicalities, costs, logistical considerations, emotional burdens and other factors that must be weighed in order to make the best choice.

Nuisance wildlife control was a cottage industry in the early 1980's, practiced mostly by fur trappers... a natural fit. Fur trappers know how to capture wild animals, and know how to humanely and safely either kill or release them. Trapped animals that are non-target, unprime, accidental or illegal (protected) were released. However, a majority of animals caught are legally targeted, resulting in a large number of carcasses in need of disposal- that is if the trapper did his own skinning and "putting up" each fur. Quantities of muskrats caught by a one trapper typically number in the hundreds, and in some cases, thousands.

A typical trapper would create a "carcass pile" somewhere out of the way along his trapline. This location would then become a place to set traps as it attracted predator/scavenger fur bearing animals. Traplines on farms typically had a place in an open field to dump carcasses, with the blessing of the farmer. Vultures and a multitude of other scavengers quickly fulfill their purpose.


The other option available was to sell the animal whole (unskinned) to a country fur buyer, who then had to deal with the accumulated carcasses from a multitude of trappers. Since fur buying was done in the cold of winter when decomposition was slow, the carcasses could be accumulated in 55 gallon drums to be picked up by the “rendering” truck. It was then delivered to a licensed "rendering" plant, which processed animal remains from multiple sources into sterile, pathogen free products such as bulk fertilizer.

The market for rendered products has decreased along with the market for raw fur, so the numbers of both rendering plants and country fur buyers are limited and far apart. Most NWCO’s will not have access to a rendering plant, but this may be an option for those who find a plant close by, and who have large numbers of carcasses for disposal. A "modern" rendering plant in New Zealand processes 28,000 lambs a DAY to produce a meat meal that is the base for pet and fish food.

A majority of NWCO work is during the spring and summer when higher temperatures lead to rapid decomposition and odor. One solution is refrigeration which minimizes odor and decay. When the chest freezer is filled to capacity, it can be disposed of all at once, by whatever disposal method is chosen. The alternative is to get rid of carcasses each day as they are gathered.

Another disposal option is by incineration, which reduces the carcass to sterile ash. The simple and most primitive method of incineration is a burn pit. A consideration for a burn pit is local ordinance, and/or a permit, which may be restrictive and costly. Areas zoned “agricultural” are more forgiving as many farmers have burn pits for their disposal needs. A burn pit requires large quantities of wood as fuel which has to be chopped up to a manageable size and hauled to the site.

A formal crematory service is the next option, but is costly. A typical veterinary crematory can hold 250 pounds. Payment is negotiated with the Vet. Buying your own crematory may be practical for large operations. Prices for the retort (crematory device) alone range from $2,000 to $100K. Permits, installation and fuel are additional costs. A crematory of this kind could be leveraged as a service to others who need it.

Next on the disposal option list is burial. The burial site should not be on a flood plain or near residential developments.There can be no possibility of groundwater or shallow well contamination. A burial site needs to be attended to with a backhoe and compliant with local law as to size, location, distance from structures, etc. Some states use burial pits to dispose of road-killed deer and may allow other wildlife in the pit. Contact your state wildlife agency. Farmers may be amenable to you using their pit especially when compensation is offered.

Composting is an effective method of disposal for any animal carcass, of any size. The method of death can be anything except mad cow disease. The cost is minimal, with the end result being a sterile mulch product. The process is similar to that used by gardeners...layers of organic wood chip mulch are reduced by thermophilic bacteria and fungi. A typical compost pile is contained in a four by eight foot open enclosure with a 1-2 foot bottom layer of wood chip mulch (or any organic matter... hay, sawdust, straw, litter, etc.,) forming the bed for 1-2 feet of crcasses. This is topped off with 3 feet of wood chips in a conical shape. The pile will heat up over time. Three months is the average time to compost 1,000 pound. When the temperature stabilizes the cone will collapse and the compost is then ready to use or store.

And finally, small animals can be bagged and placed with the trash to be picked up at the curb, if the service permits this (most do.) In the heat of summer, put it out close to the time for pickup, to reduce odor, flies and scavengers. Roaming dogs will investigate the "good" odor coming from the trash can, but a secure trash can lid keeps them and

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