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Animals - Dead

What to do if you find a dead animal

We will collect and dispose of the following types of dead animals from council land or private land:

• foxes
• badgers
• dogs
• cats
• deer
• rabbits

If you want us to pick up one of the above dead animals from a private address, we will do so free of charge if:

• it is bagged and
• placed by a front gate or driveway

If we have to collect the animal from elsewhere in the property we will charge for this service. At present the fee has been set at £15.50. Please call or email us for further details

Small birds and rodents can be disposed of in your refuse bin or buried.

What to do if you find a dead bird

Do not handle dead birds directly. They are unlikely to be carrying avian flu but they can suffer from other infections that people can catch. The DEFRA website gives guidance on disposal of dead garden and wild birds.

Principally :-

1. Avoid touching the bird with your bare hands
2. If possible, wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling
3. Place the dead bird in a suitable plastic bag, preferably leak proof. Care should be taken not to contaminate the outside of the bag
4. Tie the bag and place it in a second plastic bag
5. Remove gloves by turning them inside out and then place them in the second plastic bag. Tie the bag and dispose of in the normal household refuse bin.
6. Hands should then be washed thoroughly with soap and water
7. If disposable gloves are not available, a plastic bag can be used as a make-shift glove. When the dead bird has been picked up, the bag can be turned back on itself and tied. It should then be placed in a second plastic bag, tied and disposed of in the normal household waste
8. Alternatively, the dead bird can be buried, but not in a plastic bag
9. Any clothing that has been in contact with the dead bird should be washed using ordinary washing detergent at the temperature normally used for washing the clothing.
10. Any contaminated indoor surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned with normal household cleaner.

Public Land

If you find a dead large bird such as a swan, goose, gull or duck on public land. Please contact us and a Council Officer will arrange for its removal