Dead animal on the road? Whom to call in Ohio to remove roadkill - The Columbus Dispatch

As the weather warms up, humans aren't the only ones enjoying the outdoors. 

Deer, squirrels, raccoons and many other critters are becoming more active, too, especially with trees, plants and flowers blooming. 

But springtime can also be a deadly time for animals when they get hit by drivers. 

Matt Bruning, press secretary for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), said the agency already has collected 5,652 deer carcasses across the state this year. In 2021, the total number of deer collected for the year was 14,109.

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"We see a high number of them in the spring, and we'll see it again in the fall," Bruning said. "It is a part of our job, and that's what we do." 

The Franklin County Engineer's Office also has seen an uptick in animal carcasses, Carla Marable, communications director, said. In addition to deer, the agency has seen skunks and possums, as well as cats and dogs. 

"In the spring, shortly after the female deer give birth, we'll see a mom separated from her baby and as either the baby is darting across the roadway, they get hit, or the mom is chasing after the child and she gets hit," she said. "We're not seeing an increase in activity other than what would be customary." 

For those who do see a dead animal on the road, here is what you can do: 

Reach out to ODOT about dead animals on interstates

When driving down an interstate or state road, motorists can call their local ODOT district to remove the animal.

For Greater Columbus, that is District 6, which serves Franklin, Delaware, Fayette, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway and Union counties. The district's number is 740-833-8000.

If you are outside of the Columbus area, there are 11 other districts that serve the state. 

People can also visit ODOT's website and fill out a contact form. If an animal is blocking traffic and needs to be removed immediately, Bruning said people can call the Ohio State Highway Patrol at #677. 

Columbus Division of Refuse Collection

In Columbus, people can call the Division of Refuse Collection, which removes dead animals off city streets and sidewalks. The number is 614-645-5966. 

Franklin County Engineer's Office

The Franklin County Engineer's Office removes animals that are on county roads and highways, which are mostly located in rural areas. Marable said people can call the office's main line at 614-525-3030 or fill out a service request on its website. 

How to avoid deer collisions 

When drivers are in a situation where a deer jumps into traffic, Bruning said they should not swerve their vehicles in an attempt to avoid hitting them.

"Typically, when we see really bad crashes, it's not caused by deer, it's somebody swerving to try to miss the deer and they end up losing control of their vehicle and either hitting another vehicle or going off the road and hitting something else," he said. 

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Bruning suggests drivers follow these tips instead: 

• Watch for deer crossing signs and drive with extreme caution, especially in the posted areas.
• If you see a deer near the road, expect that others will follow.
• Watch for deer near roadways at dawn and after sunset. About 20 percent of these crashes occur in early morning, while over half occur between 5 p.m. and midnight.
• After dark, use high-beams when there isn't oncoming traffic. These will illuminate the deer's eyes allowing a driver more time to react.

Micah Walker is the Dispatch trending reporter. Reach her at mwalker@dispatch.com or 740-251-7199. Follow her on Twitter @micah_walker701.