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The U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) works out why wild animals sicken and die, for state, federal and Tribal partners. It depends on carcasses collected and sent promptly, and on the field information that comes with them. Its current rules are in the diagnostic case submission guidelines; your own agency or institution may have more requirements, and where it applies, always consult its wildlife health or veterinary staff.
A carcass in good postmortem condition: intact, feathers normal, no scavenging, insects or openings in the body, eyes clear and not sunken. Photograph by National Wildlife Health Center staff
Why condition matters
For the best diagnosis, a carcass must be intact and arrive in fair to excellent condition. To find the cause of death, the lab needs a fresh, intact carcass with all its internal organs, for examination and further tests — histology, virology, microbiology and more.
Do not send a carcass with:
- a body cavity opened by scavengers or decay
- missing or sunken eyes that are not clear
- insect or maggot damage
- a foul smell
- signs of mummification or waterlogging
- skin or fur sloughing off — or, in birds, feathers that pull out easily
How to grade a carcass
Excellent to fair carcasses are the ones most likely to give a useful diagnosis.
| Condition | Body | Smell | Insects | Bloating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | completely intact; no scavenging or openings | only the animal's natural scent | none affecting the carcass | none |
| Good | well intact; chest and belly undamaged | only the animal's natural scent | minimal, no larvae | not noticeable |
| Fair | body cavity intact, little or no scavenging; skin starting to slough, eyes noticeably sunken, membranes moderately dried | a mild smell of decay | fly larvae possible | may show, especially in the belly |
| Poor | body may be open and scavenged; skin and muscle crumble easily; eyes very sunken, membranes dried | a strong smell of decay | extensive maggots on and in the carcass | may look collapsed as gas escapes |
| Unsuitable | may feel lighter or heavier than normal; mostly bones, cartilage and fur or feathers | from strong decay to rotting plant matter | beetles, if any, usually dominate | none |
A specimen's value to a diagnostic lab drops the longer the carcass lies in the field. After Work (2015), U.S. Geological Survey
Before you ship
- Inspect every carcass carefully before freezing and shipping, including those brought in by the public, so that what you send is at least in fair to good condition.
- When you contact the NWHC, it will ask about each carcass's condition — photographs help.
- If most carcasses found are unsuitable, sick animals (birds, mammals, reptiles) that have been euthanized are acceptable specimens.
- If no carcasses worth sending turn up at first, consider going back to the site to collect more.
- Even when the cause of death cannot be found, ruling out what did not cause it is valuable.
Amphibians and turtles
These decompose quickly, so the best specimens are sick animals that have been euthanized — but sending them needs prior coordination, and your agency may have further requirements. See the NWHC's guidance on collecting, preserving, packaging and shipping amphibians.
An amphibian carcass in good postmortem condition: intact skin, no insects or openings, eyes clear and not sunken. Photograph by National Wildlife Health Center staff
Sources
Based on Diagnostic Success—A Quick Guide to Quality Carcass Submissions for Diagnostic Services, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2025–3024, USGS Publications Warehouse, citing White and Dusek (2015) and Work (2015) in the USGS Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases; a work of the United States government in the public domain. The source's "mumification" is corrected to mummification.
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