Animals fall into two general categories: Wild and Domestic. The category, type of animal and location determines which agency to report to and who is responsible for the animal. If you find an injured animal, please contact the owner or a rescue rehabilitator.
Injured Animals
Deceased Animals
Wild
Wild animals are indigenous or feral animals with no obvious private owner. This includes big game (deer, elk, bear) and small game and rodents (opossum, raccoon, squirrel, birds.)
Large road kill
When found on state roads, contact the WA State Patrol at 800-283-7808. When found on county roads, report it to Kitsap1. When found on city roads, contact the city's police or public works department.
Dead Birds, Bear, Cougar
Report to the WA Department of Fish & Wildlife at 360-902-2936, option 2 or send an email to wildcomm@dfw.wa.gov.
Dead Marine Mammal
Contact a NOAA marine mammal responder at 1-866-767-6114.
Bats
Contact Kitsap Public Health
Marine mammal on public or private beaches
Contact a NOAA marine mammal responder at 1-866-767-6114 to report whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions.
Other wild animal found on private lands
The property owner is responsible for disposal. For animals under 15 pounds, you can add it to your regular garbage for pickup. For animals over 15 pounds, take them to a rendering plant or Olympic View Transfer Station for disposal.
Domestic
Domesticated animals are those who have owners responsible for their well being. This includes farm animals (cows, horses, goats, pigs, fowl) and companion animals, (cats and dogs.) Contact PAWS of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap or the Kitsap Humane Society for assistance identifying the owners. The Kitsap County Roads Department does not pick up domestic animals.
Found on private lands
The property owner is responsible for disposal. For animals under 15 pounds, wrap it in plastic and add it to your regular garbage. For animals over 15 pounds, take them to a rendering plant or Olympic View Transfer Station for disposal.
Cat or dog on a road
Call 911 and they will dispatch Animal Control.
Large livestock on a city or county-maintained road
Call 911 to report.
Disposal
Burial
If a small dead mammal is found on your property and appears to have died of natural causes, use a shovel to place the carcass in doubled plastic bag. Dispose as garbage. Or, contact a wildlife removal service to remove the animal. You may also bury your domestic animals on your own property. Read the disposal methods section of WA-246-203-121 for instructions or the WA State Department of Agriculture's Livestock Disposal Manual.
Cremation
Ask your veterinarian for recommendations on pet cremation services.
Salvaging road-killed deer and elk
A rule adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission allows people to legally salvage deer and elk carcasses in the state. The rule specifically applies to deer and elk killed by motor vehicles. Only elk – not deer – may be salvaged in Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties, because federal laws prohibit handling endangered Columbian white-tailed deer in southwest Washington.
Anyone who takes possession of a deer or elk carcass must obtain a free, printable permit from WDFW within 24 hours. The permittee must then keep a hardcopy of the signed and dated salvage permit with the meat until all of the edible parts are consumed. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife does not guarantee that salvaged meat is fit for consumption, and encourages those planning to salvage deer and elk carcasses to review its Wild Game Meat Food Safety information. The new salvage rule also does not authorize trespassing on private property or ignoring highway-safety rules. For more info visit Roadkill salvage permit | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
