Disposing of Animal Carcasses

Careless disposal of carcasses can lead to human or animal health problems. Careless disposal also can offend the public and give trapping a bad image.

After skinning, use as much of the carcass as possible. Then dispose of unused parts carefully.

• Whenever possible, eat the meat. Raccoon, muskrat, and beaver can be very tasty. Thoroughly cook all game meat before eating. Do not eat meat from any animal that appears sick.
• Furbearer meat also can be fed to pets. Check with your veterinarian about feeding muskrat or beaver meat to your dogs. Alternatively, you might be able to sell the meat to fur ranchers to feed to their mink.
• Many furbearers have scent glands that can be used to make lure or perfume.
  • Beaver castor glands and oil sacs can be sold to make perfume or lure.
  • Mink, weasel, and skunk anal glands can be used to make lure. Weasel glands are especially useful for attracting mink, weasels, foxes, and certain other furbearers. Cut glands loose with minimal squeezing. Keep cool or frozen.
  • Fox and coyote anal glands and foot pads can be used to make lure for these species.
  • Raccoon, opossum, and muskrat glands sometimes are used to make lure.
• Science classes or nature centers may be able to use furbearer skulls for teaching purposes.
• Any remaining parts or unused carcasses should be taken to a rendering plant, used for fertilizer, or buried. When burying carcasses, choose an out-of-the-way place where dogs or wild animals will not dig them up. Make sure you follow any local regulations for animal disposal.