Who Picks Up Dead Animals in Pennsylvania?
The complete Pennsylvania answer: who's responsible for what, when service is free vs paid, and how to get private pickup if it's on your private property.
- ✓ Cite-able · Updated 2026-06
- ✓ 51 Pennsylvania city pages
- ✓ Private pickup
Private-property removal · Phone quote before any visit · Independent operators routed by your address.
Who picks up dead animals in Pennsylvania?
Three different bodies, decided by where the carcass lies. Municipal public works clears the public right-of-way — streets, sidewalks, parks — at no charge. PennDOT clears state routes and interstates, also free. Anything on your own property is yours: a licensed operator, or handle it yourself.
The Pennsylvania Dead-Animal Pickup System in One Page
Three actors share dead-animal pickup duty in Pennsylvania depending on WHERE the carcass is found. Get the jurisdiction right and you get the fastest, cheapest response.
🏛 City Public Works
What: Carcasses in the public right-of-way — city streets, sidewalks, alleys, public parks.
Cost: Free (it's part of municipal solid-waste service).
Response: 1–3 business days, sometimes longer in winter.
Limits: Many won't enter private property. Some won't handle rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, bat, fox, coyote) — they refer to Pennsylvania Game Commission or a private operator.
How to call: Call your city's general non-emergency line or 311 if available.
🛣 PennDOT
What: Carcasses on state routes, US highways, and interstates (I-76, I-78, I-79, I-80, I-81, I-83, I-90, I-376, US-22, US-30, etc.).
Cost: State maintenance service; no fee is listed.
Response: Not published. PennDOT’s FAQ: “Large animals, such as deer, bear, and elk, are the responsibility of the Game Commission. If these or any other dead animals are found on a state road or bridge, the local PennDOT county office should be contacted, and arrangements will be made for removal.” Its deer-season releases add: “Pennsylvanians can report a dead deer for removal from state-maintained roads by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD or submitting feedback through the PennDOT Customer Care Center.”
Limits: PennDOT does NOT handle city streets, township or borough roads, or private property. For a deer on a township road, some townships (Hempfield and Butler Township, for example) send residents to the Game Commission region office instead.
How to call: 1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623) or the PennDOT Customer Care Center at customercare.penndot.gov.
🏠 Private Property (You)
What: Yard, driveway, garage, attic, crawlspace, under a deck, chimney, or a wall void reachable without cutting.
Cost: Paid service — the operator quotes on the call once size, location, access and disposal are known.
Response: Varies by operator and location (licensed wildlife operator).
Limits: You DIY (gloves + double-bag, non-vector species only) OR call a licensed operator. City public works won't enter private property; PennDOT doesn't either.
How to call: (717) 912-9692. Calls route by ZIP where an operator covers the address.
City-Specific Pickup Details — Larger Pennsylvania Metros
Each Pennsylvania metro has a slightly different setup for who handles what. Below is the breakdown for five of the larger Pennsylvania metros.
- Harrisburg (Dauphin County): No published city street-pickup policy in the pages we reviewed. PennDOT handles I-81/I-83/US-22/322. Dauphin County solid-waste program handles disposal questions. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
- Pittsburgh (Allegheny County): Pittsburgh’s Bureau of Animal Care & Control lists removal of deceased animals (412-255-2036; after hours 412-255-2935); scope not stated. PennDOT handles I-376/I-79/I-279. Allegheny County solid-waste program handles disposal guidance. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
- Allentown (Lehigh County): Allentown’s Office of Animal Control is the city’s roadkill contact (610-437-8729). PennDOT handles I-78/US-22/PA-33. Lehigh County solid-waste program handles disposal. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
- Scranton (Lackawanna County): No published city street-pickup policy in the pages we reviewed. PennDOT handles I-81/I-84/I-476. Lackawanna County solid-waste program handles disposal. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
- Erie (Erie County): Erie’s Bureau of Streets lists removal of deceased animals in the city right-of-way (814-870-1340). PennDOT handles I-79/I-90/US-20. Erie County solid-waste program handles disposal. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
Who Picks Up Dead Animals in Pennsylvania — FAQ
Will the city pick up a dead animal from my yard?
Who handles dead deer on Pennsylvania roads?
Is dead animal pickup free in Pennsylvania?
How fast will the city or a private operator respond?
What if it's a rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, bat, fox)?
Who handles a dead cat (stray, owner unknown)?
Official sources
Every legal statement on this page traces to one of the sources below. Each was retrieved and read on the date shown. Where a source is agency guidance rather than law, it is labelled as such in the text.
- 25 Pa. Code § 243.11 — Disposal of dead animals — three approved methods, 2 ft of cover, 100 ft setback from waters of the Commonwealth, 24-hour deadline, unslaked lime where communicable disease is involved
- Pennsylvania Game Commission — Vehicle-killed deer possession rules; Centralized Dispatch Center 1-833-PGC-WILD, staffed 24/7
- PennDOT — Frequently Asked Questions (Road Maintenance) — If there is a dead animal on a road, who takes care of removing it? Large animals are the Game Commission's responsibility; any dead animal on a state road or bridge goes to the local PennDOT county office, which arranges removal
- PennDOT — District 1 deer-season release (2025) — Report a dead deer for removal from state-maintained roads by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD or through the PennDOT Customer Care Center
- CDC — Rabies — Federal guidance on handling animals that may be rabies vectors
Accuracy and review
- Last reviewed
- Reviewed against
- 25 Pa. Code (Environmental Protection) · Pennsylvania Game Commission · CDC
- Editorial process
- See our methodology and correction process
This page is general information for Pennsylvania homeowners, not legal advice. Statements of law are quoted from the state's own code or administrative rules and linked to the official text. Statements of agency guidance are labelled as guidance, not law. Local ordinances, county health rules and waste-hauler policies vary and can be stricter than state law — confirm locally before acting. 25 Pa. Code § 243.11 applies to “a dead animal not killed for food” — broad enough to reach pets and wildlife, unlike the disposal statutes of several neighbouring states.
Think something here is wrong? We would rather be corrected than be cited incorrectly. Tell us what is inaccurate and, if possible, the official source that says otherwise — send a correction or call (717) 912-9692. Corrections to law or agency contact details are reviewed and, where verified, applied and dated.
If no public agency covers it
Calls route by ZIP to an independent operator where one covers the address. Pennsylvania Dead Animal Removal is an advertising service, not a removal company. Where a city, county or state office does cover it, the routes above are free — try them first.