Dead Animal Removal in Toronto & the GTA
A dead animal inside a wall cavity, attic, crawl space, or beneath a structure produces a strong, sweet-putrid odour within 24–72 hours of death, depending on the size of the animal and ambient temperature. The smell intensifies as decomposition progresses and can permeate an entire floor of a home within days. Warm weather, poor ventilation, and close proximity to the HVAC return accelerate the spread.
The practical problem with dead animal removal is locating the carcass. In a finished home, this often means tracing the odour concentration to its source — which may be behind drywall, under subfloor, in a wall cavity adjacent to a bathroom or kitchen, or in attic insulation. An incorrect assessment leads to unnecessary wall opening and a carcass that is not found. Experience with the typical travel and denning patterns of the local species — mice in wall voids near the foundation, squirrels in attic insulation near the entry point, raccoons in a concentrated area they had been using as a latrine — significantly reduces the area to search.
Secondary pest pressure follows a carcass. Blow flies, cluster flies, and carpet beetles are attracted to decomposing organic material and will disperse through the home once the carcass is found. This secondary infestation is temporary if the carcass is removed promptly and the cavity is treated, but it adds urgency to the work.
- Licensed & insured — Ontario Reg. 63/09
- Same-day & next-day service
- Humane methods
- 5-year warranty on sealing work
- Across the GTA, Oakville to Oshawa
- 24/7 emergency line
Signs there is a dead animal in your home
- A strong, sweet-foul odour that increases over 2–4 days and concentrates in one area of the home
- Blow flies or cluster flies appearing inside the home, particularly in rooms you keep closed
- The smell is strongest near a specific wall, ceiling area, or floor section rather than being uniformly distributed
- A recent pest problem that went quiet — an animal that stopped moving or making noise but the smell started shortly after
- Staining on drywall or ceiling — dark staining can indicate fluids from a carcass in the cavity above or behind
- Odour that is stronger during warm weather and temporarily reduced by air conditioning
How we handle it
Odour tracing and location
We systematically narrow the location using odour concentration — testing wall cavities, attic, crawl space, and subfloor areas. Knowledge of where different species typically den and die reduces the search area significantly before any access work begins.
Carcass removal and cavity cleaning
Once located, the carcass is removed and the immediate cavity is treated with an enzyme-based odour eliminator. In attic insulation, contaminated insulation is removed from the area. In wall or floor cavities, the access point is cleaned and the area allowed to ventilate.
Structural repair
Any access made to retrieve the carcass is repaired. We do not leave open wall or ceiling sections.
Entry point identification
If the dead animal was wildlife (squirrel, raccoon, mouse), we identify how it entered the building and assess the entry points for exclusion work. A dead animal inside a structure usually means there was an active entry point — and likely others still in use.
The residual odour after a carcass is removed can persist for a week to several weeks, depending on how long the animal was there and the size of the cavity. Enzyme treatments significantly accelerate this — without them, the odour simply has to run its natural course as residual organic material dries out.
View all pest control & wildlife removal services we offer across Toronto and the GTA.
Service Areas for Dead Animal Removal
We provide specialized dead animal removal services in the following neighborhoods and cities:
$295 to start
Final price depends on the animal, the number of entry points, and the sealing work needed. You get a firm quote after the inspection — no surprise charges.
Wildlife Removal + Exclusion
Humane removal and permanent exclusion — same-day across the GTA.
View planDead Animal Removal — Frequently Asked Questions
Can you find and remove a dead animal I can smell but can't see?
Yes. We locate the source — often in a wall void, attic, or under a deck — remove it, and treat the area to deal with odour and the insects a carcass attracts.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Durapest is licensed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and operates in line with Ontario Reg. 63/09. Our technicians are trained and insured for both residential and commercial work.
Do you offer a warranty?
Yes. Treatments come with a warranty, and any sealing or exclusion work is backed by our 5-year warranty. If covered pests return within the warranty period, we come back and re-treat at no extra cost.
How soon can you come out?
We offer same-day and next-day service across most of the GTA, from Oakville to Oshawa, with 24/7 dispatch for emergencies. Call us and we'll give you a straight answer on the next available slot for your area.