Collecting Roadkill in Wyoming

Collecting Roadkill in Wyoming Using the 511 Roadkill App

Wyoming has introduced an app that allows residents to legally collect “Road Killed Wildlife” (antelope, deer, elk, moose, wild bison or wild turkey killed as the result of an unintentional vehicle collision). This resource was appealing to me, having lived in other states where whitetail seemed to constantly sacrifice themselves to vehicles, but legally picking up the carcasses was not so easy. Here’s what you need to know about Wyoming’s roadkill collection program.

Benefits to the Community

The introduction of the roadkill app offers several benefits to Wyoming residents:

Waste Reduction: Each year, countless animals are killed in road collisions. Allowing residents to collect these animals reduces waste and ensures that the meat does not go unused.
Road Safety: Removing carcasses from the road quickly helps to prevent secondary accidents, where other drivers might swerve to avoid or the remains. Predators that feed on roadside carcasses may end up getting hit themselves
Sustainable Practices: Utilizing roadkill promotes sustainability by making use of an otherwise wasted resource.

How the App Works

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has worked with WYDOT to integrate the roadkill collection authorization into their 511 app. You can also apply for collection permission here.

Download the App: Available on both Android and iOS platforms, residents can download the Wyoming Roadkill App from their respective app stores.
Report and Collect: When a user encounters roadkill, they must report the location and details through the app before collecting it.
Safety First: The regulations emphasize safety, advising users on how to safely collect roadkill and avoid hazardous situations, especially on busy roads. The whole carcass must be collected.

Legal Considerations

While the app simplifies the process, there are legal considerations to keep in mind:

Permits: Users must obtain a free permit via the app before collecting roadkill. This permit is essential for legal compliance and helps the state monitor and manage wildlife resources.
Species Restrictions: Not all animals are eligible for collection. Protected species or animals with specific regulations cannot be collected, ensuring the protection of endangered or at-risk wildlife.
Health and Safety: Follow guidelines on how to properly handle and process roadkill to ensure safety and hygiene. For safety reasons, roadkill in Wyoming may not be collected after dark.

Safety Considerations

Out of safety concerns, the following public roads or highways are prohibited from where a person may apply for and receive authorization to possess road killed wildlife:

Interstate Highway 25
Interstate Highway 80
Interstate Highway 90
Any segment of a public road or highway designated as an active construction or maintenance zone
Any segment of a public road or highway within the exterior boundary of lands administered by the National Park Service

Also, make sure you follow the regulations for road safety and to prevent disease transmission.

The Animal Must be Dead

Although I have not yet had the chance to utilize this app feature myself, I have legally collected fresh roadkill in other states. This seems like a much more convenient way to put healthy meat in the freezer. The regulations for Wyoming roadkill pickup say that you cannot finish the animal off yourself. I have not checked with local law enforcement, but I would call and ask for a cop’s assistance if the animal is suffering and unable to move.

In Missouri, I once saw a distressed buck in a median of a busy highway. After calling a police officer who came out and dispatched it, we were able to load it up and bring it by the police station for a salvage tag. The rear hip had been hit, which cooked down well for dog food. The rest was enough to feed my family for a while. We also tan hides and make bone broth. My husband and I have been raising and harvesting most of our family’s meat. We have filled the freezer many times using a cheap meat grinder and vacuum sealer. These are affiliate links to products that have actually helped my family. We find it handy to have a folding sink table for rinsing meat.

Our boys love running their hands through the deer hide on the family room coffee table. We also have tanned goat hides to use as bedside rugs using Knoblochs tanning formula. A pressure washer is a convenient way to flesh the large hides. For smaller hides, like rabbit hides, we pickle them with salt and alum. They are nice to have under keyboards as an arm rest.