Remove and dispose of dead wild birds

You should report dead wild birds.

If you want to get dead wild birds removed, you should:

• contact your local authority if they’re on public land
• contact the landowner or land manager if they’re on private land or a managed estate

You can report small numbers of dead garden birds to Garden Wildlife Health.

If you find small numbers of dead garden birds at your home (domestic residential properties only) you can dispose of them in your household or municipal waste bin, or you can bury them.

If you dispose of a dead wild bird with your household or municipal waste, you should:

• wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling dead wild birds
• place the dead wild bird in a suitable, leak proof, plastic bag and tie it
• if disposable gloves are not available, use a suitable, leak proof, plastic bag as a make-shift glove. Once you have picked up the bird, turn the bag back on itself and tie it.
• take care not to contaminate the outside of the bag
• place the bag in a second plastic bag
• if wearing gloves, remove them by turning them inside out and then place them in the second plastic bag
• tie the bag and dispose of it in the normal household waste (lidded bin outside)

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

If you bury a dead wild bird, you should:

• dig a hole at least 60cm deep to stop animals digging it up
• not bury it in a plastic bag
• if you use a plastic bag to pick the bird up put it in your normal household waste (lidded bin outside)
• not bury it near any watercourses or in a place where it could contaminate local water supplies
• wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water when you’ve finished

You should report large numbers of dead wild birds found at your home.

Bird flu is more likely when many birds die in the same area.

The birds may not be collected after you’ve reported them. If the birds are not collected within 4 days and you want them removed, you can ask a specialist waste contractor to arrange disposal. Your local authority may also be able to help.

If you keep poultry or other captive birds, you must remove dead wild birds from any areas where you keep birds or bird supplies such as feed or bedding.

Advice for keepers of small flocks

If you’re a local authority, landowner or land manager, you must remove dead wild birds if they’re a risk to human health.

You should also consider removing dead wild birds if they are:

• on a residential premises
• in an area used by children or pets
• on a public right of way or an area people often visit
• in an area where wild birds regularly feed, breed or roost
• in an area where animals are likely to scavenge them

You must cover any costs.

If you decide to dispose of dead wild birds, you must dispose of them as a category 1 animal by-product if:

• they’re in an area where bird flu has been confirmed
• you think the birds could be infected with a disease such as bird flu

You can use specialist waste contractors to remove dead wild birds.

Landowners or land managers may also be able to get help from their local authority.

If you decide to dispose of dead wild birds and you do not suspect disease, you do not need to dispose of them as a category 1 animal by-product. For guidance, contact:

• a commercial waste disposal service
• the local authority

You can download posters to put up on your site if there’s a risk of bird flu.