1. Safety first
The crew checks for hazards such as tight access, weak flooring and electrical wires before entering the area.
Traverse City, MI · Grand Traverse County
Found a dead raccoon, opossum or rodent on your Traverse City 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 odor removal means treating the source of a smell that does not fade with air fresheners. It involves locating the carcass, removing it and any soaked materials, and neutralizing odor in the area.
When an animal dies in a wall, attic or vent in Traverse City, call Traverse City 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 Grand Traverse County.
Summers in Traverse City are milder, with July highs around 81 degrees, but a dead animal inside a closed wall or attic still breaks down and smells within a few days. About 15% of housing in Traverse City is vacant, and empty homes, sheds and outbuildings are common places for animals to die unnoticed.
What dead animal removal & cleanup covers:
The crew checks for hazards such as tight access, weak flooring and electrical wires before entering the area.
The animal is located and sealed in heavy bags, and insects and debris around it are collected.
Stains and fluids are cleaned, hard surfaces are scrubbed and disinfected, and soaked porous materials are discarded.
Joists, subfloors and walls are disinfected and deodorized, and the crew lists any repairs for other trades.
Most dead animal removal & cleanup jobs in Traverse City, MI cost between $150 and $250, based on published cost guides.
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 |
These ranges come from published cost guides (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor) and are not a quote for Traverse City. Price drivers include where the animal is, whether walls must be opened, size of the animal, odor and cleanup afterward. For a real number, call (877) 812-4220.
The crew follows the odor, checks vents, attic access and crawl spaces, and looks for flies and stains. Sometimes a small camera or a small opening in drywall is needed. Once the animal is found, it is removed and the area is cleaned.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Call (877) 812-4220 to talk through removal, cleanup and odor control.
Call (877) 812-4220