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If you have a dead raccoon in your attic, there are a few things you can do to remove it. With the high numbers of raccoons in the city, knowing what to do if you suspect one or more have died in your attic can protect the safety and health of your family.
Since raccoons are often carriers of disease, it is important to take precautions when handling them. In most cases, the best way to remove a dead raccoon is to hire a professional wildlife removal company.
How Do You Know if There Is a Dead Raccoon in Your Attic?
If there is a dead raccoon in your attic, it can be hard to know for sure. The most obvious sign of a dead animal is the smell. If you notice a foul odour (trust us, you will know it isn’t garbage) emanating in your home, call in a wildlife removal expert who can assess the situation and determine whether or not a raccoon is present.
Another way to tell is to just inspect the area by looking in the attic and inspecting air vents. If you do see signs of a raccoon, such as large pawprints, matted fur, bones, or even droppings or a urine smell, then chances are high that an animal is living inside your home.
What Does a Dead Raccoon Smell Like?
A dead racoon in the attic, ceiling, or a wall will emit an indescribable smell throughout your home, especially if you have an air system expelling heat into each room. The stereotypical “smell of death” of an animal occurs as their body’s chemicals begin to break down. Sulphur dioxide, benzene derivatives, methane, and multiple hydrocarbons are emitted with natural decomposition.
What Are the Risks of Removing a Dead Raccoon Yourself?
With dead animal removal, especially raccoons, the body could be a carrier of dangerous pathogens that may be spread with contact and inhalation of infected spores. If you try to remove the dead raccoon yourself, without the proper equipment and training, you also risk encountering harmful bacteria that begins breeding within an animal when it dies.
Can a Dead Raccoon Spread Rabies?
Yes, a dead raccoon can spread rabies as this virus can be contracted without having being bitten by the infected animal. With a dead raccoon, handling the body could expose you to saliva or other body fluids that could enter your bloodstream through a cut and cause damaging effects to your nervous system.
Why Should You Hire Professionals for Raccoon Removal?
Aside from the sheer disgust (or terror) you may have when it comes to handling a dead raccoon, hiring a professional animal removal service offers a variety of benefits. A reputable service will use the proper equipment to safely remove the dead animal regardless of where it is in the home. The company will also be able to legally dispose of the dead animal in a safe manner.
Animal removal services provide clean-up and sanitation services to ensure the affected areas are safe from pathogens. If repairs are needed or extensive disinfecting is required, you may need to replace the drywall and insulation. If this is the case, a professional raccoon removal company will advise you of your options and recommend a repair company that can be contracted to fix your home.
It’s important to note that some insurance companies will want to be notified if the damages are extensive.
Contact Hawkeye for Dead Raccoon Removal in Toronto
If you need an animal, dead or alive, removed from your property, contact Hawkeye Bird and Animal Control. We are a bird and animal control company that services residential, commercial, and industrial properties in the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe. Our services include animal and bird control, falconry, balcony cleaning and netting, cleaning, and exclusion.
Need help? Contact us by visiting our website, emailing us at hawkeye@hawkeye.ca, or calling us at (416) 429-5393 or toll-free at 1-833-833-4295
