Dead Animal in Your Yard or Attic? You Don't Have to Deal With It Yourself.
Dead animal removal across 51 Pennsylvania cities. Independent operators handle the carcass, the smell, and the cleanup, and quote the price on the call.
- Phone quote
- Before any visit
- Independent operators
- Routed by your address
- Quoted on the call
- Once the job is known
- ✓ Pennsylvania Statewide · 51 Cities
Who picks up dead animals in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Dead Animal Removal connects Pennsylvania homeowners with independent wildlife operators for dead animal pickup. Public right-of-way carcasses (city streets) are handled by city public works; state routes by PennDOT. Private property — your yard, attic, walls, crawlspace — is the homeowner's responsibility. Pickup in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Scranton, and Erie. What it costs is quoted by the operator on the call, from the animal's size, location and access. Call (717) 912-9692.
What a Pennsylvania Dead Animal Call Actually Looks Like
Recovery gear, PPE, sealed transport containers and odor treatment — the equipment an operator brings to a Pennsylvania carcass recovery.
Recovery truck & equipment 
PPE & rabies-vector handling 
Arrival on site 
Yard recovery setup 
Sealed transport containers 
Odor-neutralization treatment
Images marked Illustrative are stock or AI-generated photographs used to show equipment and conditions typical of this work. They are not photographs of jobs performed by Pennsylvania Dead Animal Removal or its partner operators.
How Much Does Dead Animal Removal Cost in Pennsylvania in 2026?
A Pennsylvania removal is quoted on the phone; the number depends on the animal's size, where it is, how accessible it is, and the disposal 25 Pa. Code § 243.11 requires. No per-hour billing.
| Situation | Where | What sets the price |
|---|---|---|
| Small animal outdoors | Yard, driveway, under a deck, road frontage | Animal size, access, disposal |
| Small animal indoors | Attic, soffit, chimney, an accessible void | Confined-space work, sanitising, entry-point check |
| Crawl space or under a structure | Crawl space, under a porch or shed | Clearance, sanitising, disposal route |
| Dead deer | Yard, driveway, road frontage, wooded lot | Weight, access for a vehicle, terrain, disposal |
| Odour with no visible source | Attic, crawl space, chimney | Locating the source; finished walls are not opened |
- Quoted on the call
- No per-hour billing
- Before anyone drives out
- Independent local operators
What Happens When You Call Pennsylvania Dead Animal Removal?
Ten steps from phone quote to invoice.
- Phone quote. Call (717) 912-9692. We capture location, species, where the carcass is, and accessibility. The operator quotes from that information.
- Dispatch. Your details go to the operator covering your address.
- On-site arrival. The operator arrives with appropriate PPE, recovery equipment (winch + tarp for deer, ladder for roof/attic, sealed-bag bins for transport), and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture-compliant disposal containers.
- Carcass recovery. Recovery with PPE. Rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, bat, fox) handled per PA DOH protocols (PA DOH rabies-vector guidance).
- Odor + sanitize (indoor calls). Enzymatic odor neutralization at the recovery site. Skunk recoveries typically include musk neutralization. Squirrel/raccoon attic recoveries include urine + grease trail treatment to prevent new wildlife following the scent.
- Entry-point assessment (indoor calls). If the animal got in, others can too. Operator flags the access point and provides a referral for permanent exclusion if you want it sealed.
- Disposal. Carcass disposed per county solid-waste district requirements and county solid-waste district guidance. Rabies-vector species require additional handling — operator handles it. The operator removes the carcass rather than leaving it on-site.
- Site cleanup. Walk-through to confirm no residual fluids, fur, or scent that would draw secondary scavengers (coyote, vulture, neighbor pets).
- Invoice on completion. The operator quotes before coming out and invoices you directly. There is no per-hour billing.
- Follow-up referral (if needed). For ongoing wildlife activity (active attic, exclusion, live trapping): referral to a full-service wildlife operator. The dead-animal call is one-time; an active entry point is a separate engagement.
Pickup for Pennsylvania's Six Most-Called Species
Each species page covers typical recovery scenarios, cost range, indoor vs outdoor handling, and rabies-vector protocol where applicable.
Dead Raccoon Removal
The #1 dead-animal call in Pennsylvania. Indoor recoveries (attic, walls, under decks) account for ~60% of raccoon carcass calls — often a sign of an active entry point to seal.
View details →
Dead Deer Removal
Pennsylvania's biggest seasonal carcass call. Adult white-tailed deer carcasses can weigh 150-250 lbs — beyond DIY for most homeowners. Heavy-equipment removal + disposal.
View details →
Dead Squirrel Removal
Squirrel calls are usually indoor — attic, soffit, walls. The carcass is often near where the squirrel originally got in, so removal includes flagging the entry point to seal.
View details →
Dead Opossum Removal
Opossum recoveries are often under decks, in crawlspaces, or in garages. Rabies-vector species per PA DOH rabies-vector guidance — PPE protocols on every recovery.
View details →
Dead Skunk Removal
Skunk carcasses leave musk for weeks if untreated. Standard removal includes enzymatic odor neutralization at the recovery site. Rabies-vector species per PA DOH.
View details →
Dead Bird Removal
Bird recoveries are often roof/gutter/vent — accessibility makes them harder than ground-level recoveries. Multi-bird recoveries (chimney, vent) trigger avian-flu protocols.
View details →Six Reasons to Use Our Network
Quote by Phone
A quote from the operator before anyone comes out.
Pricing
Priced on the call once the operator knows the animal, its location, the access and what disposal it needs. No per-hour billing.
Independent Local Operators
Independent operators do the field work. We route your call to one and take no part in the job itself.
Indoor Recovery Specialists
Attic, walls, crawlspace, chimney — reached where there is a way in without cutting a finished surface — from an attic above the bay, a crawl space below it, or an existing opening. Enzymatic sanitize prevents new wildlife following the scent trail.
Heavy-Load Deer Recovery
Adult white-tail can weigh 150-250 lbs — beyond DIY. Recovery needs a winch, a tarp and a disposal-compliant vehicle. Peak season is the Oct–Dec rut and the January post-rut.
Hidden Carcass Search
Smell but nothing visible? That is its own call. Operators trace the source through attic, wall cavity, crawlspace and chimney, then treat the site so the odour does not return.
A dead animal removal network for Pennsylvania homeowners.
When you find a dead raccoon under your deck, a deer in your driveway, or notice that distinct decomposition smell coming from your attic — you need a phone number that answers and a price agreed before anyone drives over. That's what we built.
Pennsylvania Dead Animal Removal is an advertising intermediary. Field work is performed by independent wildlife operators. Licensing, disposal compliance and rabies-vector handling are their responsibility, not ours.
Pennsylvania Wildlife Carcass Pressure by Species and Season
Different species call at different times of year. Knowing the pattern helps homeowners anticipate (and helps us staff for) the busy seasons.
| Species | Peak Season | Typical Location | Rabies Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Spring (denning) + Late summer (young dispersing) | Attic, garage, under deck | Yes |
| White-tailed Deer | Oct–Dec rut + January post-rut | Roadside, driveway, property edge | No |
| Squirrel | Fall (storing), late winter | Attic, soffit, walls | No |
| Opossum | Year-round | Under deck, crawlspace | Yes |
| Skunk | Spring + Early summer (mating, dispersal) | Yard, under porch, road | Yes |
| Bird | Seasonal (migration, weather kills) | Roof, gutter, attic vent, chimney | No |
Common Pennsylvania Dead Animal Questions
Cost, who removes it, whether you can legally trash it, Pennsylvania disposal & pet-burial law, health risks, and the removal process — every question answered in one place.
Read the Full Dead Animal FAQ →51 Cities, One Phone Number
Dispatch across all 51 Pennsylvania cities we cover. Each location page covers the local pickup ordinance, road jurisdiction, and the species most frequently called in for that city.
Harrisburg, PA
Dauphin County · metro pop ~600,000
Most-called species in greater Harrisburg: raccoon (year-round, peak spring den + late summer young; primary PA rabies vector), deer (especially Oct-Dec rut on rural-edge subdivisions), squirrel (atti…
Harrisburg details →Pittsburgh, PA
Allegheny County · metro pop ~2,300,000
Most-called species in greater Pittsburgh: raccoon (older hillside housing; primary PA rabies vector), squirrel (mature-tree neighborhoods like Squirrel Hill), deer (I-79 + I-376 wooded-edge corridors…
Pittsburgh details →Allentown, PA
Lehigh County · metro pop ~865,000
Most-called species in greater Allentown: deer (I-78 + Blue Mountain wooded-edge corridors), raccoon (older West End + Bethlehem housing), squirrel (mature-tree neighborhoods), opossum, groundhog and …
Allentown details →Scranton, PA
Lackawanna County · metro pop ~555,000
Most-called species in greater Scranton: deer (I-81 + Pocono-adjacent ridge corridors), raccoon (older Green Ridge + Hill Section housing), squirrel (mature-tree neighborhoods), opossum, groundhog and…
Scranton details →Erie, PA
Erie County · metro pop ~270,000
Most-called species in greater Erie: deer (I-90 + lake-plain wooded-edge corridors), raccoon (older Glenwood + West Bayfront housing), squirrel (mature-tree neighborhoods), opossum, groundhog and skun…
Erie details →Doylestown, PA
Bucks County · metro pop ~634,655
Most-called species across Bucks County: raccoon (Bristol, Levittown, and Bensalem's older housing stock; primary PA rabies vector), deer (I-95, PA Turnpike, and Upper Bucks farmland edges, peak Oct-D…
Doylestown details →Norristown, PA
Montgomery County · metro pop ~863,513
Most-called species across Montgomery County: raccoon (Norristown, Pottstown, and Lansdale's older housing stock; primary PA rabies vector), deer (I-276, I-476, and US-422 wooded-edge corridors, peak …
Norristown details →Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia County · metro pop ~1,603,797
Most-called species in Philadelphia: raccoon (dense pre-1940 rowhome stock, chimneys and cornices; primary PA rabies vector), squirrel (attic and soffit access from mature street trees), opossum (unde…
Philadelphia details →Media, PA
Delaware County · metro pop ~576,830
Most-called species across Delaware County: raccoon (Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, and Chester's older attached housing; primary PA rabies vector), squirrel (mature-tree inner suburbs), opossum and skunk …
Media details →West Chester, PA
Chester County · metro pop ~545,823
Most-called species across Chester County: deer (the highest sustained pressure of any southeastern PA county — farmland edge plus US-202/US-30 corridors, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (older West Cheste…
West Chester details →Reading, PA
Berks County · metro pop ~428,849
Most-called species across Berks County: deer (Blue Mountain and Oley Valley farmland edges, plus the US-422 and PA-61 corridors), raccoon (Reading's pre-war row and twin stock; primary PA rabies vect…
Reading details →Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County · metro pop ~552,984
Most-called species across Lancaster County: deer (sustained farmland pressure plus the US-30 and PA-283 corridors), raccoon (older Lancaster city and borough housing; primary PA rabies vector), groun…
Lancaster details →York, PA
York County · metro pop ~456,438
Most-called species across York County: deer (I-83 commuter corridor plus river-hill and farmland edges, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (York city and Hanover's older row stock; primary PA rabies vector),…
York details →Wilkes-Barre, PA
Luzerne County · metro pop ~325,594
Most-called species across Luzerne County: raccoon (Wyoming Valley double-block housing plus abandoned mine structures; primary PA rabies vector), deer (I-81 and PA-309 mountain grades, peak Oct-Dec r…
Wilkes-Barre details →Bethlehem, PA
Northampton County · metro pop ~312,951
Most-called species across Northampton County: raccoon (Bethlehem and Easton's pre-war housing stock; primary PA rabies vector), deer (South Mountain, Blue Mountain, and the I-78/PA-33 corridors, peak…
Bethlehem details →Stroudsburg, PA
Monroe County · metro pop ~168,327
Most-called species across Monroe County: black bear (Pennsylvania's highest-density bear region — denning under decks, porches, and crawlspaces, especially at seasonally vacant properties), deer (I-8…
Stroudsburg details →State College, PA
Centre County · metro pop ~158,172
Most-called species across Centre County: deer (ridge-and-valley funneling onto US-322 and I-99, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (older State College and Bellefonte housing plus student rentals; primary PA…
State College details →Altoona, PA
Blair County · metro pop ~122,822
Most-called species across Blair County: deer (Allegheny Front and Brush Mountain corridors onto I-99 and US-22, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Altoona's railroad-era housing stock; primary PA rabies vec…
Altoona details →Williamsport, PA
Lycoming County · metro pop ~114,188
Most-called species across Lycoming County: deer (forest-edge and US-15/I-180 corridors, peak Oct-Dec rut), black bear (routine given the state-forest coverage), raccoon (Williamsport's lumber-era hou…
Williamsport details →Greensburg, PA
Westmoreland County · metro pop ~349,324
Most-called species across Westmoreland County: deer (Chestnut Ridge and Laurel Ridge corridors onto US-30 and the Turnpike, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Greensburg, Jeannette, and Monessen's century-o…
Greensburg details →Carlisle, PA
Cumberland County · metro pop ~277,270
Most-called species across Cumberland County: deer (South Mountain and Blue Mountain edges onto I-81 and US-11, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Carlisle and Mechanicsburg's older borough housing; primary …
Carlisle details →Washington, PA
Washington County · metro pop ~210,802
Most-called species across Washington County: deer (farmland edge plus the I-70 and I-79 corridors, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Washington, Canonsburg, and Charleroi's older housing; primary PA rabies…
Washington details →Butler, PA
Butler County · metro pop ~200,169
Most-called species across Butler County: deer (Moraine and Slippery Rock Creek corridors plus I-79 and PA-228, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Butler city's older stock and new-build attics alike; primar…
Butler details →Beaver Falls, PA
Beaver County · metro pop ~166,032
Most-called species across Beaver County: raccoon (mill-town housing on steep river terraces; primary PA rabies vector), deer (Raccoon Creek and Brady's Run corridors onto I-376 and PA-51), groundhog …
Beaver Falls details →Chambersburg, PA
Franklin County · metro pop ~160,652
Most-called species across Franklin County: deer (Michaux State Forest and South Mountain edges onto I-81 and US-30, peak Oct-Dec rut), black bear (Michaux is a well-established range), raccoon (Chamb…
Chambersburg details →Lebanon, PA
Lebanon County · metro pop ~146,380
Most-called species across Lebanon County: deer (Blue Mountain and Fort Indiantown Gap edges onto I-78 and PA-72, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Lebanon city and Palmyra's older stock; primary PA rabies …
Lebanon details →Pottsville, PA
Schuylkill County · metro pop ~145,085
Most-called species across Schuylkill County: raccoon (borough housing plus abandoned mine structures and culm banks; primary PA rabies vector), deer (Blue Mountain and I-81 corridors, peak Oct-Dec ru…
Pottsville details →Johnstown, PA
Cambria County · metro pop ~128,968
Most-called species across Cambria County: deer (Allegheny Front and Laurel Ridge corridors onto US-219 and US-22, peak Oct-Dec rut), black bear (routine on the plateau and ridge edges), raccoon (John…
Johnstown details →Uniontown, PA
Fayette County · metro pop ~123,021
Most-called species across Fayette County: black bear (Chestnut Ridge, Laurel Ridge, and the Ohiopyle corridor — among the most consistent bear activity in southwestern PA), deer (US-40 mountain grade…
Uniontown details →Hermitage, PA
Mercer County · metro pop ~107,860
Most-called species across Mercer County: deer (I-79 and I-80 corridors plus farmland edge, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Sharon, Farrell, and Hermitage's mill-era housing; primary PA rabies vector), gr…
Hermitage details →Gettysburg, PA
Adams County · metro pop ~107,594
Most-called species across Adams County: deer (battlefield and orchard edges plus US-30 and US-15, peak Oct-Dec rut — the protected park acreage sustains notably high local density), raccoon (Gettysbu…
Gettysburg details →Sunbury, PA
Northumberland County · metro pop ~89,920
Most-called species across Northumberland County: raccoon (Shamokin and Mount Carmel's coal-town housing plus mine structures; primary PA rabies vector), deer (river-corridor and ridge edges onto US-1…
Sunbury details →New Castle, PA
Lawrence County · metro pop ~83,911
Most-called species across Lawrence County: raccoon (New Castle's industrial-era housing; primary PA rabies vector), deer (Slippery Rock Creek and farmland corridors onto US-422 and PA-18, peak Oct-De…
New Castle details →Indiana, PA
Indiana County · metro pop ~82,878
Most-called species across Indiana County: deer (plantation conifer and Chestnut Ridge edges onto US-422 and US-119, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Indiana borough's older and student-rental housing; pri…
Indiana details →Meadville, PA
Crawford County · metro pop ~81,792
Most-called species across Crawford County: deer (farmland and forest edge plus I-79 and US-6, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Meadville and Titusville's older housing; primary PA rabies vector), beaver a…
Meadville details →Clearfield, PA
Clearfield County · metro pop ~78,100
Most-called species across Clearfield County: deer (forest edge and I-80 corridor, peak Oct-Dec rut), black bear (routine given state-forest coverage), raccoon (Clearfield and DuBois's timber- and coa…
Clearfield details →Somerset, PA
Somerset County · metro pop ~72,004
Most-called species across Somerset County: black bear (high-elevation plateau and Laurel Ridge — consistent activity), deer (Turnpike and US-219 corridors, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (older borough h…
Somerset details →Bloomsburg, PA
Columbia County · metro pop ~66,193
Most-called species across Columbia County: deer (Fishing Creek and Susquehanna corridors onto I-80, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Bloomsburg and Berwick's older stock plus student rentals; primary PA r…
Bloomsburg details →Jim Thorpe, PA
Carbon County · metro pop ~65,868
Most-called species across Carbon County: black bear (Broad Mountain and the Pocono fringe), deer (I-476 and US-209 grades, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Jim Thorpe and Lehighton's Victorian and coal-er…
Jim Thorpe details →Kittanning, PA
Armstrong County · metro pop ~63,698
Most-called species across Armstrong County: deer (river bluffs and farmland edges onto US-422 and PA-28, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Kittanning and Ford City's industrial-era housing; primary PA rabi…
Kittanning details →Milford, PA
Pike County · metro pop ~62,808
Most-called species across Pike County: black bear (high density, and denning under decks and porches of vacant seasonal homes is routine), deer (I-84 and US-6 corridors, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (p…
Milford details →Towanda, PA
Bradford County · metro pop ~59,600
Most-called species across Bradford County: deer (forest and farmland edge plus US-6 and US-220, peak Oct-Dec rut), black bear (Endless Mountains uplands), raccoon (Towanda and Sayre's older housing; …
Towanda details →Honesdale, PA
Wayne County · metro pop ~51,703
Most-called species across Wayne County: black bear (northern Pocono forest, including denning at vacant lake properties), deer (US-6 and PA-191 corridors, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Honesdale's cana…
Honesdale details →Oil City, PA
Venango County · metro pop ~49,346
Most-called species across Venango County: deer (Allegheny River and Oil Creek corridors onto I-80 and PA-8, peak Oct-Dec rut), black bear (Allegheny National Forest fringe), raccoon (Oil City and Fra…
Oil City details →Bedford, PA
Bedford County · metro pop ~47,480
Most-called species across Bedford County: deer (Turnpike and I-99 through-corridors plus continuous ridge forest, peak Oct-Dec rut — roadside volume runs high relative to population), black bear (Blu…
Bedford details →New Bloomfield, PA
Perry County · metro pop ~46,806
Most-called species across Perry County: deer (Blue Mountain water gaps and the US-11/15 river corridor concentrate movement, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (primary PA rabies vector), groundhog (farm and…
New Bloomfield details →Lewistown, PA
Mifflin County · metro pop ~46,127
Most-called species across Mifflin County: deer (Big Valley farmland and the Jacks Mountain ridgeline onto US-322, peak Oct-Dec rut), raccoon (Lewistown's rail-era housing; primary PA rabies vector), …
Lewistown details →Punxsutawney, PA
Jefferson County · metro pop ~43,255
Most-called species across Jefferson County: groundhog (genuinely the county's signature species, and a common yard, shed, and foundation-undermining call), deer (forest edge and I-80, peak Oct-Dec ru…
Punxsutawney details →Huntingdon, PA
Huntingdon County · metro pop ~43,001
Most-called species across Huntingdon County: deer (ridge-and-valley funneling onto US-22 and PA-26, peak Oct-Dec rut), black bear (Rothrock State Forest and the ridgelines), beaver and muskrat (Rayst…
Huntingdon details →Lewisburg, PA
Union County · metro pop ~42,313
Most-called species across Union County: deer (Buffalo Valley farmland against Bald Eagle State Forest, onto US-15 and I-80, peak Oct-Dec rut), black bear (state-forest edge), raccoon (Lewisburg's old…
Lewisburg details →Wellsboro, PA
Tioga County · metro pop ~40,502
Most-called species across Tioga County: deer (continuous forest edge onto US-6 and US-15, peak Oct-Dec rut), black bear (routine given state-forest coverage), raccoon (Wellsboro's Victorian stock; pr…
Wellsboro details →Carcass in Your Yard, Attic, or Driveway?
Call (717) 912-9692 for pickup across Pennsylvania. Quoted on the call, once the operator knows the job.
Plain-English Answers for Pennsylvania Homeowners
Deep-dive guides on the most-asked dead-animal questions in Pennsylvania — who picks them up, how to find a hidden carcass by smell, how to dispose of one legally, and what to do if it's in your yard right now.
Who Picks Up Dead Animals in Pennsylvania?
City vs PennDOT vs private. Free service vs paid. When to call which. The complete Pennsylvania answer.
Read the guide → 🔎 Hidden CarcassDead Animal Smell in the House — Find It & Remove It
How to track an unseen carcass by odor. Common hiding spots. What NOT to do (covering with deodorizer makes it worse).
Find the carcass → 📋 Legal DisposalHow to Dispose of a Dead Animal in Pennsylvania
the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture + county solid-waste rules. Double-bag method. What your trash hauler accepts. Rabies-vector species special handling.
Disposal guide → 🛠 Step-by-StepWhat to Do With a Dead Animal in Your Yard
Step-by-step for right now. What to wear, what tools. When to call the city, when to call a private removal service.
Step-by-step →