Knowledgebase

Dead animals in soil #931793

Asked May 15, 2026, 10:59 AM EDT

Last year a fox buried dead chickens in my garden. I think I got them all out but I’m not sure. Is it safe to plant vegetables this summer or should I replace the soil?

Baltimore County Maryland

Expert Response

It should be fine and you don't need to replace the soil, although you may want to fence-in the veggie garden (if possible) to keep wildlife out, both for plant damage prevention and food safety reasons. If you're concerned and want to use an abundance of caution, you may want to grow any root crops (potato, carrot, etc.) in either a raised bed or large container, but that's probably not necessary.

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 15, 2026, 12:25 PM EDT

Loading ...