Dead Animal Removal in Cleveland, OH
Same-day dead animal pickup across Cleveland and surrounding Cuyahoga County. Cleveland anchors the roughly 2-million-person Cuyahoga County metro on the Lake Erie shoreline. The Cuyahoga River valley and the Cleveland Metroparks 'Emerald Necklace' — a ring of wooded reservatio...
- $300–$1,000
- Flat rate, by animal size
- Under 4 hr
- Same-day response target
- No trip fee
- Quoted on the call
- ✓ Licensed · Insured · ODNR-Permitted Partner Operators
- ✓ Same-Day Pickup · Phone Quote in Minutes
- ✓ Ohio Statewide · 10 Metros
Who do I call for a dead animal in Cleveland, OH?
It depends on where the animal is. On a public street or city property, City of Cleveland Division of Waste Collection & Disposal (via 3-1-1) handles it free — call 3-1-1 or (216) 664-3711. On private property — your yard, attic, wall or crawlspace — no agency will collect it; that is the owner's responsibility. For private-property pickup in Cleveland, Ohio Dead Animal Removal connects you with a licensed operator — call (614) 412-5656. Small animals $300–$400, deer $600–$1,000.
Is dead animal removal free in Cleveland?
Partly — and the split is what most people get wrong. City of Cleveland Division of Waste Collection & Disposal (via 3-1-1) handles carcasses on public property at no charge, but removes dead animals from public areas and tree lawns. Does not collect from private yards. Anything on private property is the owner's responsibility, and that is the paid work we handle.
| Where the animal is | Who handles it | Phone | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public street or city property | City of Cleveland Division of Waste Collection & Disposal (via 3-1-1) | 3-1-1 or (216) 664-3711 | Free |
| State highway or interstate | Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) | See DOT district | Free |
| Private property — yard, attic, wall, crawlspace | Ohio Dead Animal Removal | (614) 412-5656 | $300–$400 / $600–$1,000 |
Who not to call: Cleveland Division of Animal Care & Control at (216) 664-3069 — that line is for INJURED LIVE wildlife, not dead-animal pickup; Cleveland Police non-emergency.
For live nuisance groundhogs, raccoons and skunks, the City of Cleveland contracts Freeman Nuisance Animal Removal and Remedy at (440) 647-8772 under a pilot program running through October 31, 2026.
For the statewide version of this breakdown, see our guide to who picks up dead animals in Ohio.
Why Cleveland Has the Dead-Animal Calls It Does
Cleveland anchors the roughly 2-million-person Cuyahoga County metro on the Lake Erie shoreline. The Cuyahoga River valley and the Cleveland Metroparks 'Emerald Necklace' — a ring of wooded reservations circling the metro — push heavy deer and raccoon pressure into both dense in-town neighborhoods (Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit-Shoreway) and the mature-canopy inner suburbs (Lakewood, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights). Outer suburbs like Parma, Strongsville, and Westlake see the bulk of the metro's deer-vehicle activity along the I-480 and I-271 wooded edges, concentrated in the October-December rut.
Cleveland residents report a dead animal on a public street or curb through the city's 311 system (call 311 or 216-664-2000) — the city's 311 explicitly notes it will 'request a dead animal removal from a street, public property, or curb,' and that any animal on private property must be placed at the curb for pickup. Interior recovery (attic, walls, crawlspace) is the homeowner's responsibility — call a licensed wildlife operator. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District (cuyahogarecycles.org) handles broader disposal guidance.
Neighborhoods we serve in Cleveland: Ohio City, Tremont, Lakewood, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, Parma, Strongsville, Westlake.
All Cleveland field work is performed by ODNR-permitted partner operators carrying GL insurance ≥$1M, following Ohio EPA solid-waste rules (OAC 3745-27) and ODH rabies-vector protocols (Ohio Department of Health rabies guidance).
What animals do people call about in Cleveland?
Most-called species in greater Cleveland: raccoon (dense urban tree cover in Ohio City, Tremont + inner-ring suburbs), deer (Cleveland Metroparks reservations + outer-suburb wooded edges, peak Oct-Dec rut), squirrel (mature-canopy neighborhoods like Shaker Heights + Cleveland Heights), opossum + skunk (Parma + Strongsville suburban yards). Found one in your Cleveland yard? Start here. Can smell it but can't find it? This walks the search.
Dead Deer Removal
Deer Removal in Cleveland →Dead Raccoon Removal
Raccoon Removal in Cleveland →Dead Skunk Removal
Skunk Removal in Cleveland →Dead Animal in Wall Removal
Animal in Wall Removal in Cleveland →Dead Animal in Attic Removal
Animal in Attic Removal in Cleveland →Dead Animal Under House Removal
Animal Under House Removal in Cleveland →Dead Animal in Crawl Space Removal
Animal in Crawl Space Removal in Cleveland →Dead Animal Odor Removal
Animal Odor Removal in Cleveland →Emergency Dead Animal Removal
Dead Animal Removal in Cleveland →Dead Animal Removal Cost
Animal Removal Cost in Cleveland →Dead Pet Removal
Pet Removal in Cleveland →Commercial Dead Animal Removal
Dead Animal Removal in Cleveland →Roadkill Removal
Removal in Cleveland →Dead Livestock Removal
Livestock Removal in Cleveland →What does dead animal removal cost in Cleveland?
Cleveland's older East Side and inner-ring housing stock produces a high share of attic and wall-cavity recoveries, which price above an open-yard pickup because of access cuts and sanitizing. Tree-lawn carcasses are a city responsibility and cost you nothing — the paid work begins at the property line.
Nearby Ohio Metros We Also Serve
The closest metros to Cleveland in our same-day dispatch network. Click any for local pickup ordinance, dispatch hub, response time, and common species.
Dead Animal Removal in Cleveland — FAQ
Does Cleveland remove dead animals for free?
Is (216) 664-3069 the right number for a dead animal in Cleveland?
Who removes a dead animal from my Cleveland yard?
What about a live raccoon, skunk or groundhog in Cleveland?
What does dead animal removal cost in Cleveland?
How fast can someone reach me in Cleveland?
Cleveland Dead Animal Removal — Same-Day Pickup
Phone quote in minutes. On-site under 4 hours in Cleveland. Flat rate, no surprises.