TEXAS (NEXSTAR) – If you accidentally kill a wild animal with your vehicle in Texas, do you have the right to take it home for dinner?
Many states, like California, have certain exceptions about what animals can be picked up off the road and whether drivers are legally protected in doing so. Other states, like Louisiana, have made it illegal to collect roadkill entirely.
Texas belongs to the latter camp, having completely outlawed the practice of picking up roadkill.
Wildlife Public Information Officer Lerrin Johnson explained when an animal is killed by a vehicle on a roadway, that animal was killed by illegal means and methods and is illegal to possess.
“The reasoning behind this regulation is to discourage hunters or other constituents from specifically targeting animals along the roadway,” Johnson said. “Prior to this rule, poachers could claim that their illegal kill was collected on the road as salvaged roadkill. This rule change removed the possibility of a false defense.”
Another important reason the regulation exists is for safety, as neither the state of Texas nor the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department can assure that salvaged roadkill is safe to eat. Johnson said this is due to both the chance that the animal was diseased, which may have contributed to it becoming roadkill, and the migration of bacteria due, which can make the carcass unsafe to eat or possess.
Before the rule change in 2007, it would have been legal for hobby collectors to collect nongame wildlife from the road surface if they were not doing so from a vehicle, which posed a severe safety hazard.
Before you laugh off the idea of eating roadkill consider this, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) suggests roadkill is preferable to store-bought meat in an online posting. The organization points to the lack of antibiotics, hormones, and growth stimulants that they claim can be found in most supermarket meats today.
PETA also argues that picking up roadkill for dinner is a more humane option than purchasing supermarket meat. This is because the animals were not “castrated, dehorned, or debeaked without anesthesia, (and) did not suffer the trauma and misery of transportation.”
FAQs
Texas belongs to the latter camp, having completely outlawed the practice of picking up roadkill. Wildlife Public Information Officer Lerrin Johnson explained when an animal is killed by a vehicle on a roadway, that animal was killed by illegal means and methods and is illegal to possess.
Can you pick up a dead deer in Texas? ›
If you are absolutely sure the deer is dead, you may move it off the roadway and leave it there. Texas Department of Transportation will remove the dead animal. It is illegal to tag the deer (or any game animal for that matter) and take it with you.
What states is it legal to eat roadkill in? ›
United States
- Alaska.
- Arizona.
- Arkansas.
- Georgia.
- Illinois.
- Kentucky.
- Michigan.
- New Jersey.
Millions of animals - birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians - are killed every year by vehicles traveling on America's roads. For example, partially as a result of roadkills, the population of an endangered cat - the ocelot - has been reduced to about 80 animals.
Can you pick up roadkill in Louisiana? ›
In Louisiana, it is illegal for anyone to pick up road kill on the side of the road, according to Adam Einck, a public information officer for LDWF. Drivers who do pick up dead animals on the side of the road could get ticketed for illegal possession of the species they picked up, said Einck.
Why is it illegal to pick up roadkill in Texas? ›
“The reasoning behind this regulation is to discourage hunters or other constituents from specifically targeting animals along the roadway,” Johnson said. “Prior to this rule, poachers could claim that their illegal kill was collected on the road as salvaged roadkill.
Can you take a deer if you hit it? ›
First, you have to obtain a salvage tag from the Department of Natural Resources. This requires you to fill out a simple form. Then, you either have to inform the Department of Natural Resources or local law enforcement of your intent to keep the deer. You can do this by calling them directly or contacting them online.
What state in the US has the most roadkill? ›
Wyoming's neighbor to the north, Montana, came in second, while West Virginia claims the No. 1 spot as the state with the most roadkill.
Can you keep roadkill in Florida? ›
Carcasses Salvaged From Roadways
It would be permissible for taxidermists to salvage, mount and possess the carcasses of raccoon, opossum, skunk, beaver, fox, and gray or fox squirrels found as roadkill.
Is it illegal to take bones from roadkill? ›
More than two years later, it remains very much illegal to pick up a wild animal carcass along the side of the road in California.
WHAT ANIMALS GET HIT BY CARS THE MOST?
- Deer. Deer are one of the most commonly hit animals on the road, and they're often hit by cars when crossing the road or when startled by vehicles.
- Opossums. Opossums are also commonly hit by cars, and they're often killed when crossing the road at night.
- Raccoons. ...
- Squirrels. ...
- Skunks.
Traditional methods including "natural" disposal by offroad decomposition, pit burial, rendering into feed for domestic animals, and landfill disposal may be slowly being replaced by an environmentally and aesthetically preferable approach that entails composting the deer carcasses with wood chips.
What happens if you touch roadkill? ›
Touching it would be risking your health because some animal diseases affect humans upon contact with the animal itself. The effects are not experienced immediately but allergies and other skin infections might follow you later. If there is an animal handling and care centre nearby, then contact them.
Can you cut antlers off a roadkill deer in Texas? ›
Antlers may not be cut off roadkills or found skulls taken without this tag." Texas laws regarding deer found on private property and public roadways are entirely different, according to Texas Game Warden Ellis Powell, Assistant Commander for Wildlife Law Enforcement with the Texas Park and Wildlife Department.
Where does roadkill get taken? ›
Most commonly, carcasses are taken to an incinerator where they're burned and forgotten. But several animal sanctuaries, including the Endangered Wolf Center and the World Bird Sanctuary, accept the bodies. They butcher the dead deer, store them in giant freezers and feed them to their carnivores.
Should I move roadkill off the road? ›
Roadkill should be cleared from the road as quickly as possible. Not only do the carcasses pose a danger to drivers who may be forced to swerve around them, their smell attracts scavenging animals who will descend upon the road looking for their next meal. This creates more potential driving hazards and roadkill.
What do you do if you find a dead deer? ›
If you find sick or dead wildlife, contact your closest state or federal wildlife agency; they can decide whether to investigate. You might also contact your local health department to report this occurrence.
Who picks up dead animals in Texas? ›
TXDOT handles the pickup and removal of dead animals on state highways.
What happens if a deer dies in your yard? ›
If the carcass is fresh, contact a wildlife removal company for assistance. Otherwise, consider burying it yourself or contacting animal control. To prevent future incidents, make sure to trim back shrubs, keep pet food indoors, and install motion-activated lights around your property.
Can you take antlers off a dead deer? ›
Get Permission or a Salvage Permit
In most states a deadhead is treated like a roadkill buck and subject to the same possession laws. These laws do not apply to loose shed antlers you pick up. Go online to your department of natural resources website and search for roadkill possession or salvage tag.
