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Authoritative Minnesota wildlife resources

Minnesota Wildlife & Dead Animal Resources

Vetted directory of authoritative Minnesota 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

Minnesota State Agencies

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources — Division of Wildlife

Governs nuisance wildlife handling per Minnesota Statutes Chapter 97A-97B and the DNR nuisance-wildlife rules. Issues Commercial Wildlife Control Operator permits. Manages vehicle-killed deer salvage permits.

Phone: 888-646-6367 · Web: dnr.state.mn.us

MDH — Bureau of Infectious Diseases

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

Web: health.state.mn.us

Minnesota Board of Animal Health

State disposal rules under Minnesota Statutes § 35.71 (Board of Animal Health) govern dead-animal disposal as putrescible waste. Implementation varies by county solid-waste district.

Web: bah.state.mn.us

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)

Handles carcass removal on state routes, US highways, and interstates (I-35, I-90, I-94, US-52, US-53, US-10, etc.). Report via customer service or county district office.

Web: dot.state.mn.us

County resources

County Solid-Waste Districts (Our Service Area)

County solid-waste districts implement the Minnesota dead-animal disposal law (Minn. Stat. § 35.71, administered by the Board of Animal Health) rules within their jurisdiction. Each has slightly different guidance for residential dead-animal disposal.

  • Olmsted County Solid Waste District — covers Rochester + suburbs. Residential double-bag method permitted for non-vector species.
  • Blue Earth County solid-waste program — covers Mankato metro. Standard county solid-waste rules.
  • Stearns County Solid Waste District — covers St. Cloud + Stearns County suburbs. Standard double-bag for residential trash; county landfill for large carcasses.
  • St. Louis County solid-waste program — covers Duluth + St. Louis County suburbs. Standard solid-waste rules.
  • Clay County solid-waste program — covers Moorhead + Clay 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

Minnesota Wildlife Resources — FAQ

Where do I report a rabies-vector species contact in Minnesota?
Contact the MDH Bureau of Infectious Diseases (rabies post-exposure consultation) AND your physician. For wildlife identification questions, call Minnesota DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife at 888-646-6367. Bats are the most common rabies-positive species in Minnesota; the state has historically remained free of raccoon-strain rabies.
How do I report a dead animal on a Minnesota highway or state route?
Call MnDOT customer service or your county MnDOT district office. State routes (numbered "MN-XX") and interstates (I-35, I-90, I-94, US-52) are MnDOT jurisdiction. County roads are usually the county engineer's responsibility. City streets are handled by city public works.
How do I verify a Minnesota wildlife operator's Minnesota DNR permit?
Call the Minnesota 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 Minnesota Statutes Chapter 97A-97B 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife issues free salvage permits for vehicle-killed deer. Call 888-646-6367 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 the Minnesota Board of Animal Health solid-waste rules.
Where are the official Minnesota carcass disposal rules?
the Minnesota Board of Animal Health solid-waste rules are codified at Minnesota Statutes § 35.71 (Board of Animal Health). Specific implementation varies by county solid-waste district. Search "the Minnesota Statutes § 35.71 (Board of Animal Health)" at revisor.mn.gov, or contact your county solid-waste district directly for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

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