1. Plan with the owner
The crew talks through what is known, what the smell suggests and which parts of the building may be affected.
Durango, CO · La Plata County
Is there a dead animal in a Durango wall, attic or crawl space? Call (877) 812-4220. Cleanup technicians locate the carcass, bag it for disposal, remove soaked materials and sanitize the space.
If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. For a suicide crisis, call or text 988.
Dead animal decontamination is the final cleaning stage after a carcass is gone. It lowers germs on surfaces and helps remove the odor, using EPA-registered disinfectants and sealed disposal of waste.
People in Durango and across La Plata County call Durango Biohazard Cleanup Help when an animal has died somewhere hard or unpleasant to reach. You get a cleanup team that explains each step and sorts what can be kept from what has to be discarded.
About 16% of housing in La Plata County is vacant, and empty homes, sheds and outbuildings are common places for animals to die unnoticed. Durango is on the drier side, with about 20 inches of rain a year, but drought can push animals toward buildings for shelter and water, and some do not make it out.
What dead animal removal & cleanup covers:
The crew talks through what is known, what the smell suggests and which parts of the building may be affected.
The animal is located and sealed in heavy bags, and insects and debris around it are collected.
Wood, concrete and drywall are washed and disinfected, and heavily stained porous materials are replaced.
Surfaces are cleaned and disinfected, odor is treated at its source, and the crew checks the finished area.
Expect dead animal removal & cleanup in Durango, CO to cost roughly $150 to $250, with the final price set after an on-site assessment.
Odor treatment needs vary. A closed room is simpler to treat than a house where the smell has spread through ducts and vents.
| Type of job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Dead animal removal | $150 - $250 |
| Dead animal removal | $150 - $250 |
Estimates only, not a quote. Sources: Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor. Price drivers include where the animal is, whether walls must be opened, size of the animal, odor and cleanup afterward. Call (877) 812-4220 to talk through the job.
It is not a good idea. The odor can last for weeks, flies and other pests may follow, and fluids can stain drywall and insulation. Removal and cleanup are safer and faster than waiting.
The smell comes from the carcass and any fluids, so the animal has to be found and removed. Air fresheners only cover it. After removal, the area is cleaned and treated, which usually clears the smell.
No. Wildlife and pest professionals deal with live animals and seal entry points. You get a cleanup team for carcasses, fluids, nests and odor, and the two services often work together on the same job.
Rules for removing and disposing of dead animals vary by city and county, and animal services handle public property in many places. Worker safety follows OSHA rules for contaminated materials. Ask your city or county what applies where you are.
On private property, you usually hire a dead animal removal service or cleanup team. Animal services may remove animals from public roads and property, and rules vary by city and county. For a hidden or large animal, describe the smell and location when you call.
You do not have to handle it alone. A cleanup team can remove the body with care, clean bedding and floors, and disinfect the area. It is done privately and gently, so the family is spared the hardest part.
A dead animal can carry germs, so protection comes first.
Call (877) 812-4220