How to find and remove a dead bird

If you have a bad smell in your house and you suspect it is a dead bird, you've got to find and remove the body. Wear a HEPA mask and protective gear and gloves, and bring a trash bag to where the birds live. If you can access the area, finding the bird should not be hard. If you have trouble finding the bird, the only real trick is to sniff and sniff, back and forth, until you narrow down the area.

We all love birds and never like the idea of coming across a dead bird, but being living beings birds, face various threats and issues that cause their deaths. Illnesses, attacks by predators and accidents normally lead to the death of birds. However, finding the dead body and disposing it in the best possible way is of extreme importance for minimizing the negative side effects that are associated with the entire situation. If dead bodies are not located or left unchecked it can spread many infectious diseases, which can prove to be fatal for humans and other animals. It is not only related with locating dead body, but also disposing it properly as this is a matter of extreme importance and in this section we will throw light on these aspects so that readers can have a better idea.

Finding the dead body
The biggest indicator for finding the bird’s dead body is none other than strong smell which it emits. Odor can be used for finding dead birds in places that are difficult to imagine such as ducts, air ways and ventilators. Apart from this it is very common to come across dead birds near windows, feeder, roosting regions, parks or yard. The location where dead bird is found also acts as a clue towards cause of death like a bird which is found dead near a window may have become victim of window collision. In addition to this, condition of the body of bird can also provide description related with cause of death for bird. The presence of wounds or bleeding will show more inclination towards predator attack or advanced stages of different diseases. However, it is not very much important to get information related with cause of death because focus should be upon safe removal of the body as soon as possible. Keep in mind that you may be tempted to determine cause of death, but it is of considerable importance to dispose the bird so that spread of illness and parasites can be avoided.

Removing the bird
A quicker visual inspection can be done, but after this birds should be disposed of in the right manner. Consider the below mentioned points because they will help in the safe removal of bird.

Take proper protection
It is of significant value that one should wear gloves all the time when dealing with birds because insects, mites and bacteria can get transferred to the humans during the entire procedure. Disposable gloves are considered as the best in this regard and you shouldn’t wear the same gloves when handling seeds or doing other different kinds of household related tasks.

Using decent tools
Yes you will need the supply of proper tools for removing bird otherwise there will be issues and complications to face. Rake, smaller shovel can be used for bird removal even if you are wearing gloves. Establishing contact with body of bird should be avoided in all cases.

Wrapping bird
Take a plastic bag and put bird in it and seal the bag properly. In case you don’t find a proper bag, then wrap bird in numerous layers of the newspaper that will be later discarded along with body of bird.
The body should not be visible to predators. The bag should be tightly secured and carefully placed inside trash containers that must be covered so that it should be saved for predators that will be more attracted towards idea of an easier meal.

Cleaning up
One should be extremely careful and any kind of contact with dead body should be avoided especially at the point of injuries or wounds. After bird removal all tools that have been used in the entire cleaning procedure should be sterilized properly. The place where body was present initially should also be given proper treatment like in case it was present in yard then remove that particular patch of soil. This will help in getting rid of dangerous bacteria.

Clean your hands
Hot, soapy water should be used for washing your hands especially after removing the bird even if you have worn gloves during the entire procedure. In case there is no availability of hot water, then wash hands with the help of a sanitizer properly.

Some important tips
It is strongly recommended that birds should not be left exposed in fields, garbage or composite heaps. This practice is going to attract different predators such as raccoons, dogs, cats along with rats. Predators are more attracted towards food sources that are easy to access. Burying the dead body is again not the right thing to do because birds are still going to find it.
In simple words the aim present behind entire discussion was to make the readers understand that dead birds shouldn’t be taken lightly. They can act as a source of transmitting serious kinds of diseases in the long run so one has to be extremely careful. Don’t allow pets or children to go near the body because they can establish contact with it. However, in special conditions you can also report dead bird to relevant authorities because they can manage things properly.

There is a pretty good chance that a bad lingering odor is what alerts you to the presence of a dead bird in your home or business, and it is that bad odor that will help you find the dead bird so that you can then remove it and dispose of it. 

If the smell doesn't help you, you can use your own personal knowledge of the nuisance birds to locate a deceased one. Where were they causing the most noise and commotion on the property? If there was a lot of noise in the attic, it’s a good idea to check the attic first. If you think that you might have heard birds in the wall cavities, or down the chimney, but now things have gone quiet, or you can smell that bad odor that you have come to associate with a dead animal, the wall cavities and down the chimney are the first places you should check. 

Once you have located the bird, do not attempt to move it without first protecting yourself against the array of diseases that birds, deceased birds, and bird feces can spread. Gloves are essential, and we recommend disposing of them once you’re done. A breathing mask is also a good idea, to avoid inhaling disease-causing spores. 

You will want to put the body of the bird and all material it has contaminated into several layers of newspaper, a plastic bag, or both. The entire area should then be cleaned and decontaminated.