Private property
What operators take on
By animal
The six animals, one page each
Missouri law counts a wild animal as wildlife whether it is alive or dead. Each of these six brings its own question before anything is moved: the disposal rule and the 2026-2027 CWD change for deer, rabies and the protected spotted skunk for skunks, and federal rules and bird flu for wild birds.
Dead deer
Missouri's Wildlife Code limits where a deer carcass may end up, and the CWD zone is gone for 2026-2027. A grown deer is heavy, and moving one usually takes more than one person and a vehicle close by.
What this involves →
Dead raccoon
Raccoons den in attics, crawl spaces and under decks, so a dead one is often somewhere awkward. Handle it with gloves, if at all, and keep pets away.
What this involves →
Dead skunk
Skunks are one of Missouri's two main rabies carriers, and the small spotted skunk is state-endangered. Look before anyone bags it.
What this involves →
Dead opossum
Opossums shelter under decks, porches and crawl spaces, so a dead one is often found by smell. Most can be reached through the gap the animal used.
What this involves →
Dead squirrel
Squirrels get into attics and garages along the roofline. One on the attic floor can usually be reached from the hatch; one inside a sealed wall cannot.
What this involves →
Dead bird
Most native birds are federally protected, but federal rules let anyone pick one up found dead for disposal. Several dead birds together are a report first.
What this involves →By situation
3 situations, sorted by how the animal is reached. All of them stop at the point where a finished wall, ceiling or floor would have to be cut.
In the yard
An animal in the open is the easiest to reach. Some Missouri cities run a pickup for small animals that are bagged and put at the curb, so check yours first.
What this involves →
Under a deck or crawl space
Under a deck, porch or shed, or in a crawl space, the carcass is reached through the gap or access door that is already there, without cutting.
What this involves →In the attic or garage
An animal on the attic floor or in a garage can usually be reached from the hatch or a ladder. Bats are protected, and a sealed wall cavity is a different matter.
What this involves →Animal and situation photographs on this site are stock or AI-generated images showing conditions and equipment typical of this work. They are not photographs of jobs carried out by this site or by any operator.
Two ways in. The animal pages cover what each species changes under Missouri and federal rules, from rabies advice to the wild-bird rule. The situation pages cover access, which is usually what decides whether there is paid work at all. Live animals, dead pets and livestock are not handled through this site.