Who to call by state
South Carolina
South Carolina says SCDOT maintains over 41,000 of the state’s 60,000-plus public road miles; the rest are maintained by local governments, private parties, or others. For dead deer specifically, SCDNR says it does not remove carcasses from highways or private property, and if the animal is along a public highway you may contact the local Department of Public Works. ([scdot.org](https://www.scdot.org/scdotcontactus/customerservice-faq.html))
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
- A freshly killed deer may be kept by the finder or donated to a charitable institution only if there is an incident report from the law-enforcement officials who responded to the accident. ([dnr.sc.gov](https://dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/deer/faqsdeer.html))
- Report dead birds or sick wildlife
- Official page →
Official resources in South Carolina
Use this official SCDOT map/form to report issues on state-maintained roads; it tells you if a road is not state-maintained and provides local contact information. ([apps.scdot.org](https://apps.scdot.org/MWRO/))
Official SCDOT contact page; it directs people with roadway issues to submit a Work Request and publishes the customer-service hotline. ([scdot.org](https://www.scdot.org/scdotcontactus.html?utm_source=openai))
Official deer FAQ covering injured deer, carcass responsibility, and when a freshly killed deer may be kept or donated. ([dnr.sc.gov](https://dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/deer/faqsdeer.html))
Official Clemson page for bird-flu reporting instructions; for wild birds it says to call SCDNR to report multiple dead birds. ([clemson.edu](https://www.clemson.edu/public/lph/avianinfluenza/report.html))
Official DPH guidance for dangerous, stray, or sick wild animals, including animal control, police, wildlife control operators, and the wildlife rehabilitator registry. ([dph.sc.gov](https://dph.sc.gov/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/animal-borne-diseases/rabies/preventing-rabies-1))
Key facts for South Carolina
- SCDOT’s Work Request system accepts state-road reports and identifies when a selected road is not state-maintained. ([apps.scdot.org](https://apps.scdot.org/MWRO/))
- South Carolina says SCDOT maintains over 41,000 of the state’s 60,000-plus public road miles. ([scdot.org](https://www.scdot.org/scdotcontactus/customerservice-faq.html))
- If a road is not state-maintained, SCDOT says you may need to contact your local government public works office. ([apps.scdot.org](https://apps.scdot.org/MWRO/))
- SCDNR says it is not responsible for removing dead animals from highways or private property. ([dnr.sc.gov](https://dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/deer/faqsdeer.html))
- A freshly killed deer may be kept or donated if there is an incident report from responding law enforcement. ([dnr.sc.gov](https://dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/deer/faqsdeer.html))
- For multiple dead wild birds, Clemson’s official reporting page says to call SCDNR. ([clemson.edu](https://www.clemson.edu/public/lph/avianinfluenza/report.html))
What to do next
- First, enter the location in SCDOT’s MWRO map; if it is a state highway, submit there, and if not, use the local contact information it returns. ([apps.scdot.org](https://apps.scdot.org/MWRO/))
- If the dead animal is a deer from a crash and you want to keep it, make sure responding law enforcement creates an incident report. ([dnr.sc.gov](https://dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/deer/faqsdeer.html))
- Do not handle sick or dead wild animals; DPH advises contacting animal control or police for immediate danger, and a wildlife rehabilitator for sick wild animals. ([dph.sc.gov](https://dph.sc.gov/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/animal-borne-diseases/rabies/preventing-rabies-1))
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