1. Walk the space
A cleanup technician checks the attic, crawl space and walls near the smell, looking for fluid stains and flies.
Boulder, CO · Boulder County
Found a dead raccoon, opossum or rodent on your Boulder property? Keep pets away and call (877) 812-4220 to get carcass removal, cleanup of the area and disinfection.
If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. For a suicide crisis, call or text 988.
Carcass removal is the safe handling and disposal of a dead animal, whether it is a mouse in a wall, a raccoon in an attic or a larger animal on a property. Crews wear gloves and respirators because fluids can carry germs.
When an animal dies in a wall, attic or vent in Boulder, call Boulder Biohazard Cleanup Help and get a crew that tracks the smell to its source. You get the carcass removed, the area disinfected and the odor treated, anywhere in Boulder County.
Boulder is on the drier side, with about 21 inches of rain a year, but drought can push animals toward buildings for shelter and water, and some do not make it out. About 55% of homes in Boulder were built before 1980, and older houses often have more gaps, chimneys and crawl spaces where animals can get in and die.
Dead Animal Removal & Cleanup in Boulder usually includes:
A cleanup technician checks the attic, crawl space and walls near the smell, looking for fluid stains and flies.
The team sets up protective equipment and creates safe access, using a camera or a small opening when the animal is hidden.
Insulation, carpet, padding or drywall that absorbed fluids are cut out, bagged and removed.
Joists, subfloors and walls are disinfected and deodorized, and the crew lists any repairs for other trades.
Most dead animal removal & cleanup jobs in Boulder, CO cost between $150 and $250, based on published cost guides.
Which materials are soaked changes the scope. Insulation and carpet come out easily, while drywall, subfloor and cabinets add labor and disposal.
| Type of job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Dead animal removal | $150 - $250 |
| Dead animal removal | $150 - $250 |
Figures are planning ranges from Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor, not a price for any specific Boulder property. Price drivers include where the animal is, whether walls must be opened, size of the animal, odor and cleanup afterward. Call (877) 812-4220 any hour.
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.
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.
Yes. Animals can die inside ducts, and the heating and cooling system then moves the odor through every room. Cleanup includes removing the animal and treating vents and duct openings.
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.
Eventually it fades, but that can take weeks, and fluids that soaked into insulation, carpet or wood keep releasing odor. Removing the animal and treating the area is much faster than waiting.
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.
Do not tear open walls. A cleanup team can find the source safely.
Call (877) 812-4220