1. Find the source
The crew follows the odor, checks vents, attic access and crawl spaces, and opens a small section only when needed.
Temple, PA · Berks County
A strong sickly-sweet smell in your Temple house could mean an animal died in the walls. Call (877) 812-4220 to get dead animal cleanup, removal of soaked insulation and sanitizing.
If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. For a suicide crisis, call or text 988.
A dead animal in a wall is one of the harder cleanup problems, because the animal cannot be seen and the smell spreads. Crews follow the odor, open a small section if needed and remove the carcass.
If a dead animal is on your property in Temple or elsewhere in Berks County, call Temple Biohazard Cleanup Help for removal and cleanup at your home, rental or business. Your cleanup team works in gloves, respirators and protective gear and follows workplace safety rules for contaminated materials.
Many homes in Temple, about 90%, were built before 1980. Older insulation and wood framing soak up fluids and hold odor for a long time. Vacant and seasonal properties in Berks County can hold a dead animal for a long time. Cleanup includes removal, soaked material tear-out and odor treatment.
What dead animal removal & cleanup covers:
The crew follows the odor, checks vents, attic access and crawl spaces, and opens a small section only when needed.
The team sets up protective equipment and creates safe access, using a camera or a small opening when the animal is hidden.
Stains and fluids are cleaned, hard surfaces are scrubbed and disinfected, and soaked porous materials are discarded.
Odor is neutralized, vents and air paths are checked, and the owner receives a summary of the work.
Most dead animal removal & cleanup jobs in Temple, PA cost between $150 and $250, based on published cost guides.
How long the animal has been there affects the job. Longer decomposition means more fluids in insulation and framing, and stronger odor.
| Type of job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Dead animal removal | $150 - $250 |
| Dead animal removal | $150 - $250 |
Published ranges only (Bob Vila, HomeAdvisor); every dead animal removal & cleanup job in Temple is priced after an on-site look. Price drivers include where the animal is, whether walls must be opened, size of the animal, odor and cleanup afterward. Questions? Call (877) 812-4220.
Open windows where it is safe, keep children and pets away, and try to note where the smell is strongest. Do not tear open walls. Call Temple Biohazard Cleanup Help at (877) 812-4220 to talk through the safest next step.
It depends on the lease and local law. Tenants should tell the landlord or property manager right away. A landlord, an attorney or a tenant rights group can say who is responsible.
You do not have to handle it alone. A cleanup team can remove the body with care, clean bedding and floors, and disinfect the area. It is done privately and gently, so the family is spared the hardest part.
Do not touch it bare-handed. Wear heavy gloves, place it in a heavy bag, seal it and dispose of it according to local rules. Wash your hands well afterward. If it is large or you are unsure, call for help.
Sometimes. A small animal in plain sight can be bagged with gloves and a heavy bag, sealed and disposed of properly. Hidden, large or long-dead animals are a different job, because fluids soak into materials and germs can spread.
Rules for removing and disposing of dead animals vary by city and county, and animal services handle public property in many places. Worker safety follows OSHA rules for contaminated materials. Ask your city or county what applies where you are.
A dead animal can carry germs, so protection comes first.
Call (877) 812-4220