Dead Deer Removal: Steps to Take, Carcass Mitigation

Unfortunately the current EHD crisis has led to thousands of dead deer and more are dying every day. It appears that the EHD affected area is currently expanding. The crisis is not going away until we get a hard frost. If you find a dead deer on your property call us immediately so it won't go to waste. We encourage everyone to examine their property for dead deer on a daily basis. Unfortunately most homeowners don't realize they have a dead deer on their property until it starts to smell. If you have a rotten foul smelling carcass on your property you have a real problem and it will only get worse the longer you wait. After about 4 or 5 days it will no longer be safe to handle so moving it is pretty much out of the question. So what can you do? This is the number one question we have been getting lately.

First , report the deer to the DNR here: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/sickdeer

Next you basically have 2 options.

Option 1: Bury it.This is probably your best option but you have to dig down about 6 feet so it's not very practical for most homeowners unless you have access to or are willing to rent a mini excavator.

Option 2: Bury it in pine mulch but pine mulch is hard to find, however, almost any natural, organic mulch will work to help decompose a carcass and reduce the smell. However, the texture and thickness of the mulch matter much more than the specific type of wood.
The primary goal is to create a tight "biofilter" that traps odors while letting oxygen in so beneficial bacteria can do their job.

Best and worst mulch choices:

• Shredded Hardwood Mulch (Excellent):This is highly effective. The shredded pieces interlock tightly, which does a fantastic job of sealing in odors and keeping flies and scavengers from smelling the carcass.

• Arborist Wood Chips (Excellent): Fresh chips from a tree trimming service (which contain a mix of wood, bark, and green leaves) are actually the gold standard used by state departments of transportation for carcass composting. The green leaves add a bit of nitrogen to jumpstart the process.

• Pine Shavings or Sawdust (Good, with caution): They seal odors incredibly well, but if they get packed down too tightly and rain hits them, they can block oxygen entirely. This causes anaerobic decomposition, which actually makes the smell much worse. Mix them with coarser materials if possible.

• Large Bark Nuggets (Poor): Avoid these. Large nuggets leave massive air gaps. The smell will easily drift right through the cracks, and flies will easily find the carcass.

Crucial alternative choices (If you run out of mulch) If you don't have enough mulch to create a massive mound, you can safely mix or layer it with:

• Dry Autumn Leaves: Pack them down tightly around the body before capping it with mulch.

• Finished Compost or Topsoil: Adding a layer of dirt directly on the animal introduces billions of decomposing microbes immediately, which drastically speeds up the timeline.

• Straw or Hay: Good for bulk, but must be covered with heavier mulch or dirt so it doesn't blow away.

⚠️ Two Critical Safety Rules
1. Never Use Cedar or Treated Mulch: Avoid bag mulch labeled as "pest-resistant" (often cedar) or chemically dyed mulches (like bright red or black rubber mulch). Cedar naturally resists rot and kills off the very bacteria and fungi you need to decompose the animal.
2. Water Source Distance: Ensure the carcass is located at least 200 feet away from any wells, streams, ponds, or public water lines to prevent groundwater contamination as it dissolves.

I hope this helps. Let's pray for frost soon!