Finding a dead bird in your backyard isn’t something people enjoy but it happens. You may even find it disgusting or a bad sign.
Removing the bird properly will reduce the risk of getting diseases and the bacteria or other harmful effects on humans.
Never leave the dead bird out in the open, your dog or cat will be drawn to it. If they consume it, it’s possible they could fall ill from the carcass.
As if that’s not enough, if they feed off the dead bird, they could become accustomed to it and become a predator to birds, including some pets.
Remember – Burying the bird isn’t a good idea. Predators can sniff it out and still dig it up.
What Could Have Caused The Death Of The Bird?
The place you found the dead bird may give an idea if it was bitten by a predator or it might have flown into something or any indicators of illness.
If it was dead near a window it could have died from impact after the impact of flying into the window.
A bird can die due to a number of reasons and major scenarios include:
Ingesting or inhaling pesticides, weather, poison baits, viral disease, outdoor pets including cats and dogs.
The commonest known diseases that kill a bird are:
- Aspergillosis
- Avian pox
- West nile virus
- Salmonella
You may have the urge to find out the reason why it died however, you’ll be better to get rid of the dead bird as fast as you could to lessen the chances of passing any infections on to any other animals.
What Should I Do If I Find A Dead Bird?
It’s always such a sad sight to find a dead bird in your backyard. In some cases, a person will just leave the bird where it is. However, they run the risk of their pet cat or dog eating the bird.
This is dangerous because the bird may have died due to some infectious disease. So, it is best to remove the bird, and follow the safety advice while doing this.
Confirm first that the bird is definitely dead
You may believe the bird is dead, but it may be alive.
Confirm first if the animal is dead. If you have protective clothing to wear when handling the bird, then touch it. If the bird is alive, then contact wildlife medical to help care for it.
Keep yourself protected
You should always wear protective clothing when touching the bird, especially since the parasites can transfer infections.
Wear disposable gloves, and once you have used them and got them dirty, don’t recycle them if you use them to clean bird feeders, do any chores, or in the garden.
If it is hard for you to find gloves, you can use a plastic bag instead, to put over your hands, to protect your hands.
Use the right tools
It is best to avoid contact with the dead bird as much as you can. Use a shovel or a small rake. Just remember to wear gloves when disposing of the bird.
If at all possible, using additional barriers like cardboard or a newspaper can be quite useful as they can prevent any cross-contamination.
Wrap the dead body
Use a plastic bag, and wrap the body tightly. Secure it completely.
If you do not possess a plastic bag, you may use any other type of material, as long as you keep the body wrapped, tightly, to avoid contamination.
Keep the dead bird in a closed container
Keep it away from other predators.
Place the bag in a trash bin or a container that pets, scavengers, and even children cannot get into. Remember to ensure the container is fully closed once you have made the placement.
Clean it up
If the bird created a mess where it passed away, remove the soil or patch, and douse a disinfectant in the area.
If the dead bird had exposed injuries, skin, and wound, make sure to disinfect the tools you used to clean it, by soaking them in either a disinfectant solution or a bleach solution.
Wash your hands
Once you have disposed of the dead bird, wash your hands thoroughly using soap and water or disinfectant.
Do not use gloves as an excuse not to wash your hands. If you cannot access water, use a hand sanitizer and just wash your hands when you can.
What Will Happen If You Touch A Dead Bird?
Birds are beautiful creatures, and you may want to touch the dead body by inspecting the Closer.
If you touch the bird, you want to make sure to wash your hands immediately after.
Birds can transmit diseases to humans, even in death. They can carry damaging microorganisms, virus, and bacteria in their bodies or feathers.
The risk of becoming ill is greater when you do not wash your hands, especially when eating, smoking, or drinking.
You may come dependent on the evidence to fungal, bacteria, or viral disease from contamination.
For example, if you developed an infection, you may demonstrate symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and acute abdominal pain.
Prevention Action You May Participate That May Assist
You may deter birds from colliding into windows by making outside markings on windows to disrupt the visual of a bird flying into an object.
You can use other things to manipulate, such as:
- paint
- Zen curtains
- decals
- and soap
Use drainable trays and feeders. Inspect birdseed often to ensure it is not wet or moldy.
Upon inspection, disposes of any wet or moldy seeds to minimize the exposure to disease.
Lastly – If you observe a dead bird, dispose of it as soon as possible and stop feeding them to avoid further transmission of potential diseases.
In What Cases Should I Report A Dead Bird?
- If you find the dead bird species to be rare in your area. This could mean poaching or other occurrences which need investigation.
- If you discover three or more same species of dead birds in the same area, report the incident. There could be an outbreak of disease or contamination.
- Report it to the authority responsible or authority if the bird has any type of tracking device attached to or around it.
Superstitious Meaning of Dead Birds
Birds in life are viewed as being symbols of hope, freedom, and happiness.
Birds in death have varied meaning.
A dead bird symbolizes:
- Hopelessness
- Failure
- Grief
The placement of a dead birds’ death can also have a varied meaning. The end of a bird’s life can represent the end of something significant in your life.
Their death can also symbolize transformation or change in your life.
Also, the type of bird may have varying symbolism.
For example – Dead eagles have a negative meaning. The eagle symbolizes power and royalty. Their death symbolizes a loss of either or both of these.
For some people, seeing a dead bird on their property does not signify that something is going to happen to them however.
Some view it as something else in their life that has reached an end and, which impacts them more if you try to resist.
Final Thoughts
It is not uncommon to stumble across a dead bird while in your backyard so it is important to know what to do if this happens.
You have to consider the disposal precautions you will take and the effects so that you do not get unwanted side-effects.
For some it will be scary to see a dead bird because it can represent the end to something significant in their life while others see it only as how nature occasionally works.
If you happen to come across or find a dead bird in your yard or garden, then you should dispose of its carcass when you feel safe to do so based on health and safety measures for the birds well-being.