Who to call by state
West Virginia
In West Virginia, the Division of Highways maintains most public road mileage, while municipalities own a smaller share of local streets, so roadkill reporting depends first on who owns the road. The state also now has both WVDNR district-office reporting and a new online wildlife disease/mortality tool for sick or dead wildlife. ([transportation.wv.gov](https://transportation.wv.gov/agencies/highways?utm_source=openai))
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Road-killed deer salvage
- West Virginia law allows possession of a deer accidentally struck by a motor vehicle if the possessor gives notice to a relevant law-enforcement agency within 12 hours and obtains a nonhunting game tag within 24 hours; protected birds, elk, spotted fawn and bear cubs are excluded. ([code.wvlegislature.gov](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/20-2-4/?utm_source=openai))
- Report dead birds or sick wildlife
- Official page →
Official resources in West Virginia
Use this page if you need the DOT’s published general contacts or district offices for a state-road issue. ([transportation.wv.gov](https://transportation.wv.gov/contact-us?utm_source=openai))
This page explains how West Virginians should report sick or dead wildlife and what details to provide. ([wvdnr.gov](https://wvdnr.gov/plants-animals/wildlife-disease/?utm_source=openai))
Use this page to find your local WVDNR district office for wildlife health reports and other wildlife contacts. ([wvdnr.gov](https://wvdnr.gov/contact/?utm_source=openai))
This official state-law page contains West Virginia’s vehicle-killed wildlife possession rule, including the notice and nonhunting game tag deadlines. ([code.wvlegislature.gov](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/20-2-4/?utm_source=openai))
Key facts for West Virginia
- WVDOH says it maintains more than 35,000 miles of state roads; WVDOT lists 34,940 state-owned highway miles and 2,990 municipally owned road miles. ([transportation.wv.gov](https://transportation.wv.gov/agencies/highways?utm_source=openai))
- WVDOT’s Operations Division directs citizen highway assistance requests to the SWAT online form. ([transportation.wv.gov](https://transportation.wv.gov/agencies/highways/divisions/operations-division?utm_source=openai))
- The West Virginia Municipal League says municipalities have responsibilities for construction and maintenance of their local street systems. ([wvml.org](https://www.wvml.org/about/municipal-policy?utm_source=openai))
- State law allows possession of vehicle-killed wildlife, including deer, if notice is given within 12 hours and a nonhunting game tag is obtained within 24 hours. ([code.wvlegislature.gov](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/20-2-4/?utm_source=openai))
- The vehicle-kill possession rule excludes protected birds, elk, spotted fawn and bear cubs. ([code.wvlegislature.gov](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/20-2-4/?utm_source=openai))
- WVDNR says the public should report sick or dead wildlife to a local district office, and in July 2026 it added an online wildlife disease/mortality reporting tool. ([wvdnr.gov](https://wvdnr.gov/plants-animals/wildlife-disease/?utm_source=openai))
What to do next
- If the carcass is on a state highway, start with WVDOT’s SWAT request form; if it is on a city street, check the municipality because West Virginia municipalities maintain local street systems. ([swat.transportation.wv.gov](https://swat.transportation.wv.gov/?utm_source=openai))
- For a road-killed deer you want to keep, notify a relevant law-enforcement agency within 12 hours and obtain the required nonhunting game tag within 24 hours. ([code.wvlegislature.gov](https://code.wvlegislature.gov/20-2-4/?utm_source=openai))
- For dead birds or other sick wildlife, report the location, date, species, number affected, and visible signs to WVDNR or use its online reporting tool. ([wvdnr.gov](https://wvdnr.gov/plants-animals/wildlife-disease/?utm_source=openai))
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