In the event a motor vehicle strikes a deer, motorists should contact 911. If the deer is injured, the police officer or law enforcement official will typically contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for guidance in animal handling, including potential “dispatch” of the deer.
Residents who encounter an injured or sick deer are advised to contact a DEC regional wildlife office for assistance or call the 24-hour dispatch line at 1-844-DEC-ECOS.
Deer are susceptible to a variety of injuries, illnesses, and disease. When the public reports sick, injured or dead deer, DEC wildlife experts will consider the circumstances, description and/or photos of the animal to determine whether it should be collected and tested for cause of injury or death. DEC wildlife staff test deer that show clinical symptoms including being lethargic, disoriented, thin, drooling, circling, etc. For more information on Chronic Wasting Disease and how to keep New York CWD free, visit the DEC website.
Any deer reported to DEC that displays clinical symptoms of Chronic Wasting Disease, or any other wildlife disease, is tested.
If an animal is deceased on a roadway, the department or local entity that manages the roadway, like a town highway department, village streets department, county department of public works or state Department of Transportation, is responsible to remove the animal.
