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Indiana Dead Animal Guide

Who Picks Up Dead Animals in Indiana?

The complete Indiana answer: who's responsible for what, when service is free vs paid, and how to get same-day pickup if it's on your private property.

$300–$1,000
Flat rate, by animal size
Under 4 hr
Same-day response target
No trip fee
Quoted on the call
  • ✓ Cite-able · Updated 2026-06
  • ✓ 6 Indiana metros covered
  • ✓ Same-day private pickup
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Quick answer

Who picks up dead animals in Indiana?

Three different bodies, decided by where the carcass lies. City public works clears the public right-of-way — streets, sidewalks, parks — at no charge. INDOT clears state routes, US highways and interstates, also free. Anything on your own property is yours: a licensed operator, or handle it yourself.

The three pickup jurisdictions

The Indiana Dead-Animal Pickup System in One Page

Three actors share dead-animal pickup duty in Indiana 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, fox, and bat) — they refer to IDNR or a private operator.

How to call: Call your city's general non-emergency line or 311 if available.

🛣 INDOT

What: Carcasses on state routes, US highways, and interstates (I-65, I-69, I-70, I-74, I-465, the Indiana Toll Road, US-31, US-41, US-52, etc.).

Cost: Free.

Response: 24–48 hours typical, faster for highway-safety hazards.

Limits: INDOT does NOT handle city streets, county roads, or private property. County engineers handle most county-classified roads.

How to call: INDOT customer service or your county INDOT district office.

🏠 Private Property (You)

What: Yard, driveway, garage, attic, walls, crawlspace, under deck, chimney — anywhere on your property.

Cost: Paid service — typical Indiana range $300–$400 for small animals, higher for attic and wall recoveries; deer $600–$1,000.

Response: Same-day, under 4 hours from phone quote (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; INDOT doesn't either.

How to call: (317) 451-8385 for any of our 6 Indiana metros.

Dead animal on your private property right now?

Phone quote in minutes. On-site under 4 hours.

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By metro

City-Specific Pickup Details — Indiana Metros We Serve

Each Indiana metro has a slightly different setup for who handles what. Below is the breakdown for the 6 metros Indiana Dead Animal Removal serves.

  • Indianapolis (Marion County): Indianapolis DPW handles city right-of-way. INDOT handles I-465/I-65/I-69/I-70 (1-855-INDOT4U). Marion County solid waste handles disposal questions. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
  • Fort Wayne (Allen County): Fort Wayne Street Department handles city right-of-way. INDOT handles I-69/I-469/US-30/US-24. Allen County Solid Waste District handles disposal guidance. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
  • South Bend (St. Joseph County): South Bend Streets Department handles city right-of-way. INDOT handles US-31/US-20 and the Indiana Toll Road. St. Joseph County Solid Waste District handles disposal. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
  • Evansville (Vanderburgh County): Evansville Street Department handles city right-of-way. INDOT handles I-69/US-41. Southwestern Indiana / Vanderburgh County Solid Waste District handles disposal. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
  • Bloomington (Monroe County): Bloomington Public Works handles city right-of-way. INDOT handles SR-37/I-69. Monroe County Solid Waste District handles disposal. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
  • Lafayette (Tippecanoe County): Lafayette / West Lafayette Street Departments handle city right-of-way. INDOT handles I-65/US-52/SR-26. Tippecanoe County Solid Waste District handles disposal. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
FAQ

Who Picks Up Dead Animals in Indiana — FAQ

Will the city pick up a dead animal from my yard?
In most Indiana cities, no. City public works departments handle dead animals in the public right-of-way only — city streets, sidewalks, public parks. Carcasses on private property (your yard, driveway, attic, walls, crawlspace) are the homeowner's responsibility. Call a licensed wildlife operator for private-property pickup.
Who handles dead deer on Indiana roads?
Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) handles dead deer and other large animals on state routes and interstates. City streets are handled by the city public works department. County roads are split between the county engineer and INDOT depending on the road classification.
Is dead animal pickup free in Indiana?
City public works dead animal pickup in the public right-of-way is free in most Indiana cities. INDOT highway pickup is free. Private property pickup (your yard, attic, walls) is paid service — typically $300–$400 for small animals in Indiana, with attic, wall and crawlspace recoveries at the upper end and deer at $600–$1,000.
How fast will the city or a private operator respond?
City public works typically responds in 1–3 business days. INDOT typically responds within 24–48 hours for highway calls. Licensed wildlife operators (private service) typically respond same-day, under 4 hours from phone quote.
What if it's a rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, bat, fox)?
Rabies-vector species require special handling per IC 15-17-11 (BOAH Dead Animal Disposal Law) and Indiana Department of Health guidance. Some city public works departments will not handle these — they'll refer to IDNR Division of Wildlife or a licensed wildlife operator. If you or a pet had any contact with the animal, contact your physician for rabies post-exposure consultation.
Who handles a dead cat (stray, owner unknown)?
Stray cat carcasses on public right-of-way are typically handled by city animal control or public works. On private property, options are: county animal control, the local humane society (some accept for chip-scan + disposal), or a private wildlife operator. We offer chip-scan before disposal so missing-pet owners can be notified.

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.

  • Indiana Code IC 15-17-11 — State carcass-disposal chapter. IC 15-17-11-1(3) states it does not apply to bodies of dead fish, reptiles, or small animals of any kind, including dogs, cats and small game. No burial depth number appears in the chapterIndiana law / state agencyretrieved 2026-08-11
  • Indiana State Board of Animal Health — BOAH treats wildlife as outside IC 15-17-11 and sets the covering standard for on-premises burialCounty or municipalretrieved 2026-08-11
  • CDC — Rabies — Federal guidance on handling animals that may be rabies vectorsFederalretrieved 2026-08-10

Accuracy and review

Last reviewed
Reviewed against
Indiana Code · Indiana State Board of Animal Health · CDC
Editorial process
See our editorial policy

This page is general information for Indiana 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. Indiana has no state statute governing a homeowner’s disposal of a dead pet or wild animal: IC 15-17-11-1(3) excludes small animals including dogs, cats and small game, and the Board of Animal Health treats wildlife as outside the chapter. Pet burial is therefore governed by municipal ordinance, and IC 15-17-11-22 bars burial inside city or town limits where an ordinance prohibits it.

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 (317) 451-8385. Corrections to law or agency contact details are reviewed and, where verified, applied and dated.

If no public agency covers it

Calls route to an independent licensed operator covering your county. Indiana 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.

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