Missouri, private property

Dead Animal in the Attic or Garage in Missouri

Squirrels and raccoons get into attics and garage roof spaces along the roofline. When one dies on the attic floor or in the insulation, it can usually be reached from the hatch. When an animal is sealed inside a ceiling or wall cavity, it is not removed through this site, and the wall-smell article covers what can be checked first.

What this covers

• An animal on the attic floor or in loose insulation reached from the hatch.
• An animal in a garage, on a shelf, behind stored items or in the garage roof space.
• An animal on a soffit ledge reached from inside the attic.

Where the limit is

Requests passed on through this site do not include cutting into a ceiling or wall, pulling out insulation, or spraying and sealing work. Bats are not removed through this site.

Say whether the attic has a floor or only joists and insulation, where the hatch is, and how much headroom there is. That decides whether the spot can be reached safely.

An attic in summer runs hot, and heat generally makes a smell stronger while it lasts. The size of the animal, humidity and airflow all play a part, so no fixed time applies.

How a call goes

1. Say what animal you think it is. If it may be a bat, do not touch it, and if anyone may have had contact with it, call your doctor, your local public health agency or DHSS before it is moved.
2. Call or send the form with your ZIP code, where the smell is and how the attic is reached.
3. If an operator covers your ZIP code, you settle the price and timing with them directly.
4. If an operator takes the job, the carcass comes out through the hatch and is taken for disposal.