Dispose of dead wildlife on your property

You can safely dispose of dead wildlife if:

• you have advice from the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline
• the animals are small enough to fit into a leakproof plastic bag in your general rubbish bin or to bury
• they cannot be left where found.

There are 2 recommended ways to safely dispose of dead wildlife on your property:

• bin disposal
• burial.

Avoid contact

If you find sick or dead wild birds or wildlife, avoid direct contact with the animal.

Keep children and pets away.

Do not touch dead wildlife, feathers, droppings, fluids, or anything the animal may have contacted with your bare skin.

If contact occurs, wash the affected skin thoroughly with soap and water. Use hand sanitiser or cleansing wipes (baby wipes) if soap and water are not available.

Bin disposal

Gather items

• Two pairs of disposable, waterproof gloves (a plastic bag fully covering your hands can be used as makeshift hand protection)
• A face mask (surgical or P2/N95 fitted mask)
• Eye protection such as sunglasses or goggles
• A tool (e.g. shovel, garden trowel, rake)
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Two leakproof plastic bags, large enough to completely enclose the dead wildlife
• Strong tape or zip ties to seal the bags
• Soap or household detergent and water for cleaning hands and tools afterwards
• Disinfectant such as household bleach or other product that states it kills viruses on the label

Put on personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Disposable, waterproof gloves
• Face mask (surgical or P2/N95 fitted mask)
• Eye protection
• Long-sleeved shirt

Put the animal inside the first bag

• Prod the wildlife gently with a tool to ensure it is dead.
• Place the dead animal into the bag:
  • use a tool to gently lift the dead animal into the open bag
  • or
  • place the bag over your hands, grasping the dead wildlife through the bag, then turning the bag inside out so the animal is fully enclosed in the bag.
• Tie or seal the first bag securely.

Remove PPE and double-bag

• Remove gloves carefully, turning them inside out.
• Avoid touching the outside of the gloves with bare skin.
• Place used gloves on top of the first sealed bag.
• Put the second bag over your hands and collect the first sealed bag (with dead animal inside) and used gloves.
• Remove eye protection and place aside for cleaning.
• Remove the face mask using ear loops and place it inside the second bag.
• Tie or seal the second outer bag.