Dead Animals

Small dead animals – like insects, spiders, fish, small rodents, or small birds – can go in the compost cart. If using a bag, it must be paper or certified compostable.

If you find a freshly dead bird with no obvious cause of death, visit the California West Nile Virus page for more info – the California Department of Health Services may want to collect and test the dead bird for West Nile Virus.

Dead Bird or Squirrel

If you find a dead bird, particularly a crow, jay, magpie, raven, sparrow, finch, raptor, or dead tree squirrel, please file an online report or call toll-free at 877-968-2473. Dead bird and tree squirrel reports are very important because they are usually the first indication that a virus is active in an area, and this allows the California Department of Public Health to monitor the virus throughout the year.

Wildlife

If you find dead wildlife on your property and it is not a bat, skunk, raccoon, or fox, you can:

• Bury the animal
• Double bag it and put it in the trash or
• Put the carcass along the road, and call the Town or County for pickup. We must be able to drive up to the carcass.

If the animal is a bat, skunk, raccoon, or fox, Please call your local Animal Control. Staff will ask you questions regarding possible exposure to your dogs or cats. If there was contact, it may be necessary to test the dead animal for rabies. In these cases, we ask that you keep the carcass as cold as possible.

Domestic Animals

If you find dead dogs or cats in your yard Animal Control will typically remove the dead animal for you.

If the animal is yours, you can bury the animal in your yard or take it to a veterinary facility for disposal. Local animal shelters (PDF) may also take the animal for disposal. Livestock can be buried on your property as long as it is not near a waterway and is 150 away from any roadways. You may also call North State Animal rendering at 530-343-0660 or the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility at 530-345-4917, to see if they will take the animal remains.

Dead Animal Removal in the Town of Paradise

The Town of Paradise Animal Control will remove dead animals from Town roadways when it is safe to do so.

Dead Animal Removal in County Areas

Butte County Animal Control will remove dead animals from County roadways when it is safe to do so. You can also contact Cal-Trans for removal from state highways.

For county areas that have yard waste carts not compost carts this material goes into your landfill cart.