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Authoritative Michigan wildlife resources

Michigan Wildlife & Dead Animal Resources

Vetted directory of authoritative Michigan 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

Michigan State Agencies

Michigan Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife

Governs nuisance wildlife handling per Michigan NREPA Part 401 and the DNR Wildlife Conservation Order. Issues Commercial Wildlife Control Operator permits. Manages vehicle-killed deer salvage permits.

Phone: 517-284-9453 · Web: michigan.gov/dnr

MDHHS — Bureau of Infectious Diseases

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

Web: michigan.gov/mdhhs

MDARD — Solid Waste Program

State solid-waste rules at the MDARD Bodies of Dead Animals (BODA) Act govern dead-animal disposal as putrescible waste. Implementation varies by county solid-waste district.

Web: michigan.gov/mdard

Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)

Handles carcass removal on state routes, US highways, and interstates (I-75, I-94, I-96, I-69, US-131, US-23, etc.). Report via customer service or county district office.

Web: michigan.gov/mdot

County resources

County Solid-Waste Districts (Our Service Area)

County solid-waste districts implement MDARD the MDARD Bodies of Dead Animals (BODA) Act rules within their jurisdiction. Each has slightly different guidance for residential dead-animal disposal.

  • Kent County Solid Waste District — covers Grand Rapids + suburbs. Residential double-bag method permitted for non-vector species.
  • Ingham County solid-waste program — covers Lansing metro. Standard MDARD solid-waste rules.
  • Genesee County Solid Waste District — covers Flint + Genesee County suburbs. Standard double-bag for residential trash; county landfill for large carcasses.
  • Washtenaw County solid-waste program — covers Ann Arbor + Washtenaw County suburbs. Standard solid-waste rules.
  • Kalamazoo County solid-waste program — covers Kalamazoo + Kalamazoo 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

Michigan Wildlife Resources — FAQ

Where do I report a rabies-vector species contact in Michigan?
Contact the MDHHS Bureau of Infectious Diseases (rabies post-exposure consultation) AND your physician. For wildlife identification questions, call Michigan DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453. Bats are the most common rabies-positive species in Michigan; the state has historically remained free of raccoon-strain rabies.
How do I report a dead animal on an Michigan highway or state route?
Call Michigan DOT customer service or your county MDOT district office. State routes (numbered "M-XX") and interstates (I-75, I-94, I-96, I-69) are MDOT jurisdiction. County roads are usually the county engineer's responsibility. City streets are handled by city public works.
How do I verify an Michigan wildlife operator's Michigan DNR permit?
Call the Michigan 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 Michigan NREPA Part 401 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 Michigan?
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife issues free salvage permits for vehicle-killed deer. Call 517-284-9453 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 MDARD solid-waste rules.
Where are the official Michigan carcass disposal rules?
MDARD solid-waste rules are codified at the Michigan MDARD Bodies of Dead Animals (BODA) Act. Specific implementation varies by county solid-waste district. Search "the MDARD Bodies of Dead Animals (BODA) Act" at legislature.mi.gov, or contact your county solid-waste district directly for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

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