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 private pickup if it's on your private property.
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- ✓ Cite-able · Updated 2026-06
- ✓ 6 Indiana metros covered
- ✓ Private pickup
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 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: State maintenance service; INDOT4U lists no fee.
Response: INDOT’s own words: “Dead animals are typically removed from within state Rights of Way between 1-16 business days, based on safety concern.”
Limits: INDOT does NOT handle city streets, county roads, or private property. County engineers handle most county-classified roads.
How to call: 1-855-INDOT4U (1-855-463-6848) if the carcass is obstructing traffic; otherwise the INDOT Customer Service Portal’s “Report a Concern” form (indot4u.511in.org/report).
🏠 Private Property (You)
What: Yard, driveway, garage, attic, walls, crawlspace, under deck, chimney — anywhere on your property.
Cost: Paid service — quoted by the operator on the call from animal size, location, access and disposal.
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; INDOT doesn't either.
How to call: (317) 451-8385 for any of our 6 Indiana metros.
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): No published city street-pickup policy in the pages we reviewed; Animal Care & Control says it does not remove deceased wild animals from private property (260-427-1244). 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 collects dead animals in the street or at the front curb, deer included, via 311 (574-233-0311), normally within 24 hours; staff do not enter private property or alleys. 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 Animal Control (812-435-6015) picks up dead, stray and wild animals that are not on state highways. INDOT handles I-69/US-41. Southwestern Indiana / Vanderburgh County Solid Waste District handles disposal. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
- Bloomington (Monroe County): Bloomington Animal Care & Control (812-349-3492) picks up dead animals in the public roadways; the city’s uReport form takes dead-animal reports. INDOT handles SR-37/I-69. Monroe County Solid Waste District handles disposal. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
- Lafayette (Tippecanoe County): Lafayette Animal Control (765-807-1200) takes reports of deceased animals in the roadway; Tippecanoe County Animal Control says it does not pick up dead animals; West Lafayette’s policy is not published. INDOT handles I-65/US-52/SR-26. Tippecanoe County Solid Waste District handles disposal. Private property: licensed wildlife operator.
Who Picks Up Dead Animals in Indiana — FAQ
Will the city pick up a dead animal from my yard?
Who handles dead deer on Indiana roads?
Is dead animal pickup free in Indiana?
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.
- 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 chapter
- Indiana State Board of Animal Health — BOAH treats wildlife as outside IC 15-17-11 and sets the covering standard for on-premises burial
- INDOT4U — Indiana Department of Transportation customer service — Dead animals in the state right-of-way are typically removed within 1 to 16 business days based on safety concern; 1-855-INDOT4U and the online form
- CDC — Rabies — Federal guidance on handling animals that may be rabies vectors
Accuracy and review
- Last reviewed
- Reviewed against
- Indiana Code · Indiana State Board of Animal Health · CDC
- Editorial process
- See our methodology and correction process
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 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.