Eating roadkill

Deer and elk carcasses are spotted along Washington State roads from time to time. These animals were off limits in the past, but as of July 1 of this year, the meat can be salvaged.

It should be realized most roadkill isn’t worth retrieving. The damage to a deer or elk is usually extensive after being hit by a vehicle going 70, 50 or even 40 miles per hour. Vehicle damage can be massive also. However, some deer, elk and vehicle collisions cause little damage to the animal.

There are a few rules to follow during the salvage operation. First only deer and elk involved in collisions with vehicles are considered, and only elk in Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. This is because of the endangered Columbian white-tailed deer in southwest Washington.

Also, a person taking possession of a deer or elk carcass must obtain a free, printable permit from Fish and Wildlife within 24 hours. The roadkill salvage permit application is found on the Fish and Wildlife website. A copy of the signed and dated permit must remain with the meat until all of the edible parts are consumed.

This may seem simple, but, again, we should follow this rule completely. If a roast or two are given to a sister, make a copy of the permit and make sure she keeps it until the meat is eaten.

Other rules include: Big game licenses and tags cannot be used for the purpose of salvaging motor vehicle-killed deer or elk.

The entire carcass, including entrails, of the animal must be removed from the road right of way.

The new salvage rule also does not authorize trespassing on private property or ignoring highway-safety rules.

An individual may not kill an injured or wounded animal for the purpose of salvage. Only a law enforcement officer or individuals or entities authorized by the department may euthanize an animal injured in a motor vehicle collision, whether or not the animal is taken for salvage.

Any meat an individual deems unfit for human consumption or unusable animal parts must be disposed of pursuant to WAC 246-203-121, which involves the disposal of dead animals.

Individuals salvaging and consuming this meat do so at their own risk. Fish and Wildlife makes no guarantee as to the fitness for consumption of deer or elk collected under a salvage permit.

So, let’s discuss the possibility of salvaging a vehicle-hit deer or elk. First, a deer or elk may not be dead and may wander off the road and onto private property. The first job is to find the landowner and get permission to retrieve the animal.

Second, if the deer is not dead, law enforcement must be contacted in order to dispatch it. Next, all parts of the animal must be removed from the road right of way. A check with the Washington Department of Transportation indicates road right of ways vary, from 30 feet from the center of the road to a lesser distance. However, if it is on federal or state land, you could walk to the animal or drag the animal off the right of way and take care of it, after it was dead.

Here is an example of an animal which could have been salvaged: I was heading back to basecamp last year after dark. My speed was 50 mph on a remote stretch of road when several deer appeared in a field on my right. They were at the edge of the field and wanting to cross the road. Two turned away from the road, but the third hit my vehicle with his right shoulder, causing his head to hit hard enough to dent the hood.

This spike was not dead, but was on the ground moving only his head. Apparently he had sustained a neck or brain injury. Fish and Wildlife enforcement was called and I was told to kill the animal, but not to touch it, and these directions were followed. If this collision had happened this year, the deer would have been salvaged.

Remember only a law enforcement officer or individuals or entities authorized by the department may euthanize an animal. In this case, I was the individual authorized to kill the deer.

After all of this time and work, the meat may not be fit for human consumption. Be careful at this point and don’t take any chances. It is more prudent to leave the animal than to prepare possible tainted meat for consumption.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission is applauded for allowing the salvaging of deer and elk hit by vehicles. Remember this only applies to deer and elk, not other animals.

This new rule means edible meat will be able to be salvaged, instead of going to waste alongside the road.