Dead and injured animals

On public roads

If the animal is on a public road, please contact Hertfordshire County Council.

On private land

We do not remove dead animals from:

• Private roads
• Private open spaces
• Private properties, including gardens

In these cases, it is the landowner's responsibility. We recommend you contact a pest control company.

Report a dead animal on public land

If you find a dead animal (domestic or wild) on public land, including pavements and public open spaces, please use the form below to report it. We aim to remove the animal the same working day (excluding weekends).

Report a dead animal

Report a vehicle accident with an animal

You must stop and report the accident to the police if you hit any of the following:

• dogs
• cats
• horses
• cattle
• pigs
• goats
• sheep
• donkeys and mules

You must do this as soon as possible, whether the animal is dead or not.

Report pesticide poisonings

Call the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme on 0800 321 600 if you think an animal has been poisoned by pesticides.

How we deal with dead animals

We are responsible for removing dead animals in public areas (typically roadkill). Once we receive a report we aim to remove the animal that same working day (not weekends). The animal will then be temporarily stored at our depot.

We will scan dead pets, such as cats and dogs, for a microchip and contact the owner if possible. We will store dead pets at our depot for a short period to give owners the chance to collect the body, if they would like to. If an animal is not claimed, we will arrange for it to be cremated.

What to do if you find an injured animal

If you find an injured wild animal, watch it first to see how badly hurt it is. Then, contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999, or take it to a nearby vet or wildlife rehabilitator. If possible, contain the animal before calling. For more advice, visit the RSPCA website.

Lost and stray animals

If you are concerned about a lost or stray animal, please see our lost and stray animals page.