Who to call by state
Michigan
In Michigan, dead animals on state highways are handled by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) only on state-maintained I, M, and US routes; other roads are usually handled by county road commissions or local city/village agencies. Michigan also lets residents salvage some road-killed wildlife, including deer, through the DNR’s permit system, and the DNR uses its Eyes in the Field form for reports of sick wildlife and notable dead-bird events.
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
- Michigan residents may salvage a road-killed deer only with a free DNR roadkill salvage permit, and the carcass or parts generally cannot be taken outside the county of pickup except allowed processed parts.
- Report dead birds or sick wildlife
- Official page →
Official resources in Michigan
Explains that MDOT removes roadkill on state-maintained I, M, and US routes and says to contact the nearest MDOT office.
Lists MDOT’s region offices residents use to report dead animals on state highways.
Helps residents find the county road agency for county roads outside MDOT jurisdiction.
States Michigan’s road-killed deer salvage rules and points residents to the DNR roadkill permit.
Provides the DNR’s diseased wildlife reporting page used for sick wildlife reports.
Key facts for Michigan
- MDOT removes roadkill on state-maintained I, M, and US routes.
- MDOT says dead animals on its roads should be reported to the nearest MDOT office.
- County road commissions remove roadkill on roads under their own jurisdiction.
- Within cities and villages, road ownership may be state, county, or city, block by block.
- Michigan allows pickup of a road-killed deer, but the person must apply for a DNR permit.
- If six or more wild birds die, the DNR asks residents to file an Eyes in the Field report.
What to do next
- First identify the road: I, M, and US routes are generally MDOT; township-area county roads usually go to the county road agency; city and village streets usually go to the local public works office.
- For a carcass on a state highway, use the MDOT regions page to contact the nearest region office; MDOT did not publish a dedicated statewide roadkill web form on the pages found.
- For sick wildlife or multiple dead wild birds, submit a DNR Eyes in the Field report instead of moving the animal yourself.
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