Who to call by state
Massachusetts
1) If the carcass is on a numbered state highway, use MassDOT’s online report form. 2) If it is on a city/town street, contact your local Animal Control Officer or municipal DPW/Board of Health. 3) For wildlife-specific issues, use MassWildlife’s dead-bird form or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if the animal is sick or injured.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Report on a state road
- Official page →
- Road-killed deer salvage
- In Massachusetts, a Massachusetts-resident driver or passenger from the vehicle that hit a salvageable deer may keep it only after immediately notifying the Massachusetts Environmental Police (or, if they cannot be reached, local police or the nearest State Police barracks) and obtaining the required official seal, confirmation number, or permit; other salvagers must report the deer within 24 hours, and salvaged deer may not be sold.
- Report dead birds or sick wildlife
- Official page →
Official resources in Massachusetts
Use this official MassDOT form to report a dead animal or other issue on a state highway.
Find your city/town Animal Control Officer for dead-animal issues on local roads or other municipal animal matters.
Official MassWildlife reporting form for dead or sick wild birds.
Find licensed rehabilitators for sick or injured wildlife that may need help.
Official agency contact page for wildlife-law enforcement, including deer-salvage notification questions.
Key facts for Massachusetts
- On Massachusetts state highways, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Highway Division maintains state highways, bridges, and tunnels, and MassDOT publishes an online "Contact MassDOT" report/issues form for residents to report roadway issues such as dead animals on state roads (MassDOT Highway Division; Contact MassDOT on Mass.gov).
- For local roads in Massachusetts, responsibility is typically at the city/town level rather than the county level: municipalities must designate an Animal Control Officer (ACO), and Mass.gov’s environmental complaints guidance points residents to local DPW/Board of Health for neighborhood service issues and to Animal Control for animal/pest problems (Municipal Animal Control Officers in Massachusetts; Filing environmental complaints on Mass.gov).
- MassWildlife’s dead-bird reporting form is for 5 or more sick or dead wild birds at one location, and especially for seabirds such as gulls, terns, cormorants, and sea ducks; MassWildlife also publishes a general wildlife-help page and a licensed wildlife rehabilitator finder for sick or injured wildlife that may need intervention (Report observations of dead wild birds; Find a wildlife rehabilitator; What to do if you find a wild animal that might be sick or hurt on Mass.gov).
Helpful guides
- Who removes dead animals on roads?
- Dead animal on private property: whose job is it?
- Dead deer removal: roads, yards and salvage permits
- Dead animal under a house or in a wall: finding it and the smell