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Authoritative Pennsylvania wildlife resources

Pennsylvania Wildlife & Dead Animal Resources

Vetted directory of authoritative Pennsylvania resources for dead-animal handling, rabies surveillance, wildlife regulations, county solid-waste disposal, and highway carcass reporting. Every listing is independently maintained by the named authority — links open in a new tab so you can verify directly.

State authorities

Pennsylvania State Agencies

Pennsylvania Game Commission

Governs nuisance wildlife handling per Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code (Title 34 Pa.C.S.) and the Pennsylvania Game Commission nuisance-wildlife rules. Issues Commercial Wildlife Control Operator permits. Manages vehicle-killed deer salvage permits.

Phone: 717-787-4250 · Web: pgc.pa.gov

PA DOH — Bureau of Infectious Diseases

Rabies surveillance and post-exposure consultation per PA DOH rabies-vector guidance. Annual rabies-positive species reports by county. Public health guidance for rabies-vector species exposure.

Web: health.pa.gov

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

State disposal rules under the Pennsylvania Domestic Animal Act govern dead-animal disposal as putrescible waste. Implementation varies by county solid-waste district.

Web: agriculture.pa.gov

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)

Handles carcass removal 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.). Report via customer service (1-800-FIX-ROAD) or county district office.

Web: penndot.pa.gov

County resources

County Solid-Waste Districts (Our Service Area)

County solid-waste districts implement the Pennsylvania dead-animal disposal law (the Pennsylvania Domestic Animal Act, administered by the Department of Agriculture) rules within their jurisdiction. Each has slightly different guidance for residential dead-animal disposal.

  • Dauphin County / municipal solid-waste — covers Harrisburg + suburbs. Residential double-bag method generally permitted for non-vector species.
  • Allegheny County / municipal solid-waste — covers Pittsburgh metro. Standard county/municipal solid-waste rules.
  • Lehigh County / municipal solid-waste — covers Allentown + Lehigh Valley suburbs. Standard double-bag for residential trash; county landfill for large carcasses.
  • Lackawanna County / municipal solid-waste — covers Scranton + suburbs. Standard solid-waste rules.
  • Erie County / municipal solid-waste — covers Erie + Erie County. Standard double-bag for residential; county landfill for large animals.
National resources

Industry & Federal Resources

National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA)

Industry association for licensed wildlife operators. Maintains standards for humane handling, exclusion, and disposal.

nwcoa.com

CDC — Rabies in the United States

Federal rabies surveillance data, post-exposure prophylaxis guidance, vector species identification.

cdc.gov/rabies

USDA Wildlife Services

Federal wildlife damage management program. Resources for property owners dealing with persistent wildlife conflicts.

aphis.usda.gov

FAQ

Pennsylvania Wildlife Resources — FAQ

Where do I report a rabies-vector species contact in Pennsylvania?
Contact the PA DOH Bureau of Infectious Diseases (rabies post-exposure consultation) AND your physician. For wildlife identification questions, call Pennsylvania Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management at 717-787-4250. Raccoons, bats, and skunks are the main rabies-positive species in Pennsylvania, which sits within the raccoon-rabies endemic zone of the eastern U.S.
How do I report a dead animal on a Pennsylvania highway or state route?
Call PennDOT customer service (1-800-FIX-ROAD) or your county PennDOT district office. State routes (numbered "PA-XX"), US highways, and interstates (I-76, I-79, I-80, I-81, I-83, I-90, I-376) are PennDOT jurisdiction. County roads are usually the county engineer's responsibility. City streets are handled by city public works.
How do I verify a Pennsylvania wildlife operator's Pennsylvania Game Commission permit?
Call the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 717-787-4250 to verify a specific operator's Commercial Wildlife Control Operator permit. This permit is required by Pennsylvania Game and Wildlife Code (Title 34 Pa.C.S.) for businesses that trap or handle live nuisance wildlife. Most operators that handle dead-animal-only calls also hold this permit for full-service capability.
Where can I get a salvage permit for a vehicle-killed deer in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Game Commission issues free salvage permits for vehicle-killed deer. Call 717-787-4250 within 24 hours of the collision. The permit allows you to possess and use the deer (typically for venison processing). Without a salvage permit, the deer must be disposed of per the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture solid-waste rules.
Where are the official Pennsylvania carcass disposal rules?
the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture solid-waste rules are codified at the Pennsylvania Domestic Animal Act. Specific implementation varies by county solid-waste district. Search "the Pennsylvania Domestic Animal Act" at legis.state.pa.us, or contact your county solid-waste district directly for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

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