1. Find the source
The crew follows the odor, checks vents, attic access and crawl spaces, and opens a small section only when needed.
Delray, Detroit, MI · Wayne County
Found a dead raccoon, opossum or rodent on your Delray 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.
Dead animal cleanup goes beyond pickup. As an animal decomposes, fluids soak into insulation, drywall, carpet and wood, so the job includes removing and replacing those materials and sanitizing what remains.
In Delray, a dead animal is both a smell problem and a health matter for you and your household. Call Delray Biohazard Cleanup Help for help anywhere in Wayne County. Crews use protective gear, remove contaminated materials and check the area before handing it back.
With a vacancy rate of 22% in Detroit, a dead animal in an unused building may sit for weeks before anyone finds it. Summers in Delray are milder, with July highs around 84 degrees, but a dead animal inside a closed wall or attic still breaks down and smells within a few days.
A typical dead animal removal & cleanup job includes:
The crew follows the odor, checks vents, attic access and crawl spaces, and opens a small section only when needed.
Barriers keep odor and dust from spreading while technicians suit up and open access to the space.
Stains and fluids are cleaned, hard surfaces are scrubbed and disinfected, and soaked porous materials are discarded.
Odor and air are checked, and the owner is shown the work and told what, if anything, needs follow-up.
Most dead animal removal & cleanup jobs in Delray, Detroit, MI cost between $150 and $250, based on published cost guides.
Insurance may help in some cases, but many homeowners policies exclude damage from animals or pests. Ask your insurer exactly what applies before work starts.
| 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.
Hard surfaces, wood framing and items in sealed containers can usually be cleaned and kept. Insulation, carpet, padding and drywall that soaked up fluids are generally removed. The crew sorts items with you before anything is thrown out.
It depends on the lease and local law. Tenants should tell the landlord or property manager right away. A landlord, an attorney or a tenant rights group can say who is responsible.
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.
Open windows where it is safe, keep children and pets away, and try to note where the smell is strongest. Do not tear open walls. Call Delray Biohazard Cleanup Help at (877) 812-4220 to talk through the safest next step.
The smell can last a few days to a few weeks, depending on the size of the animal, the weather and where it died. It fades faster once the animal and soaked materials are removed and the area is treated.
Insulation soaks up fluids and odor and cannot be reliably cleaned. Leaving it in place means the smell can return. Replacement insulation is usually a separate job.
Tell the team what you found and it explains the next step.
Call (877) 812-4220