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Authoritative Ohio wildlife resources

Ohio Wildlife & Dead Animal Resources

Vetted directory of authoritative Ohio 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

Ohio State Agencies

Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife

Governs nuisance wildlife handling per Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1531 and OAC 1501:31. Issues Commercial Wildlife Control Operator permits. Manages vehicle-killed deer salvage permits.

Phone: 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543) · Web: ohiodnr.gov

Ohio Department of Health — Bureau of Infectious Diseases

Rabies surveillance and post-exposure consultation per Ohio Revised Code § 955.26. Annual rabies-positive species reports by county. Public health guidance for rabies-vector species exposure.

Web: odh.ohio.gov

Ohio EPA — Solid Waste Program

State solid-waste rules at OAC 3745-27 govern dead-animal disposal as putrescible waste. Implementation varies by county solid-waste district.

Web: epa.ohio.gov

Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)

Handles carcass removal on state routes, US highways, and interstates (I-75, I-77, I-90, I-71, I-70, US-30, US-422, etc.). Report via customer service or county district office.

Web: transportation.ohio.gov

County resources

County Solid-Waste Districts (Our Service Area)

County solid-waste districts implement Ohio EPA OAC 3745-27 rules within their jurisdiction. Each has slightly different guidance for residential dead-animal disposal.

  • Lucas County Solid Waste District — covers Toledo + suburbs. Residential double-bag method permitted for non-vector species.
  • Summit County ReWorks — covers Akron metro. Standard Ohio EPA solid-waste rules.
  • Montgomery County Solid Waste District — covers Dayton + Miami Valley. Standard double-bag for residential trash; county landfill for large carcasses.
  • Mahoning County Green Team — covers Youngstown + Mahoning Valley. Standard solid-waste rules.
  • Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste District — covers Canton + Stark 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

Ohio Wildlife Resources — FAQ

Where do I report a rabies-vector species contact in Ohio?
Contact the Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Infectious Diseases (rabies post-exposure consultation) AND your physician. For wildlife identification questions, call ODNR Division of Wildlife at 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543). Bats are the most common rabies-positive species in Ohio; raccoon-strain rabies has been detected in eastern Ohio counties bordering Pennsylvania.
How do I report a dead animal on an Ohio highway or state route?
Call Ohio DOT customer service or your county ODOT district office. State routes (numbered "OH-XX" or "SR-XX") and interstates (I-75, I-77, I-90, I-71, I-70) are ODOT jurisdiction. County roads are usually the county engineer's responsibility. City streets are handled by city public works.
How do I verify an Ohio wildlife operator's ODNR permit?
Call the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife at 1-800-WILDLIFE to verify a specific operator's Commercial Wildlife Control Operator permit. This permit is required by Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1531 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 Ohio?
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife issues free salvage permits for vehicle-killed deer. Call 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543) 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 Ohio EPA solid-waste rules.
Where are the official Ohio carcass disposal rules?
Ohio EPA solid-waste rules are codified at Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3745-27. Specific implementation varies by county solid-waste district. Search "OAC 3745-27" at codes.ohio.gov, or contact your county solid-waste district directly for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

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