Dead animals need to be handled with care because they carry diseases. Here's what you need to know about a dead bird.

Finding a wild dead bird

When you find a wild dead bird take extra caution. Obviously you haven't been watching the bird the way you do a pet bird, so you have no idea where it's been or what kind of disease it may have contracted before death. If the bird is mauled and was clearly attacked, it's easier to deduce how it died, but if it's whole, it's best to stay away from the bird.

If you find a wild dead bird, you can remove it yourself or you can call animal control to pick up the bird. It's important to remember that if you or one of your loved ones is going to pick up the bird, you should wear gloves and a face mask to protect yourself from contracting any diseases.

Your state Department of Transportation will usually pick up a dead bird that's lying on the side of a highway. If the Transportation Department doesn't pick up dead animals, they can usually direct you to the office that takes care of deceased animals. State and local governments are very adept at getting dead animals out of public areas.

Bird flu in dead birds

As mentioned before, it's not a good idea to just pick up a dead bird because it can carry diseases. One such diseases that has caused a scare in the United States and an outright panic in some Asian countries is the bird flu.

The bird flu is a virus that is contracted through bird excretions and is spread by birds to other animals and sometimes humans. It's an awful sickness and kills birds rather quickly. Though it hasn't been found in too many humans, it is a threat and should be taken seriously. One way to protect yourself from bird flu is by steering clear of any dead bird.

A wild dead bird in particular might be carrying the disease. By looking at the dead bird you would have no idea if it does or does not have the disease. Now, if you see funny red splotches on chicken or other poultry that you buy at the store, make a decision not to buy or eat that dead bird. Red splotches on meat are one way to tell if a plucked bird had bird flu. However, the United States government has been very careful about poultry imports since the bird flu outbreak in Asia and chances are very good that the dead bird you buy from a store will be safe to eat.