CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – As temperatures drop and deer rutting season continues, drivers are seeing a rise in a different sort of traffic problem: roadkill. The rise in deer carcasses in particular littering the roadsides raises the question: Who is responsible for the undesirable task of cleaning them up? And how are they disposed of?
It turns out, three local agencies are involved: the Clarksville Street Department, the Montgomery County Highway Department (MCHD) and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
Cleanup and disposal
How quicky the roadkill is removed depends on several factors, including how quickly passing drivers notify one of the agencies.
“Obviously, something blocking or impeding traffic is treated with a higher priority than one in a drainage ditch or easement,” said Joshua Peltz, MCHD spokesperson. “But we do try to get them within 24 to 48 hours if they are reported to our help line.”
In the rare case that the animal is struck and is injured but still alive, Montgomery County Animal Control will typically handle those. Animal Control also handles animals that are obviously pets.
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When TDOT responds, they send out two crew members in a small dump truck that has a lifting winch. Larger animals are lifted and placed in the truck, according to TDOT spokesperson Erin Zeigler.
In Montgomery County, the Bi-County Landfill will accept and dispose of roadkill.
Whose job is it?
Jurisdiction for cleaning up roadkill isn’t assigned to one single entity.
The Clarksville Street Department is responsible for city streets and will remove roadkill within its jurisdiction, said Jimmy Settle, city spokesman.
Highways in Montgomery County fall to the MCHD, but there are some cases when the dead animal is outside their jurisdiction by a few feet. “If the animal is struck and lands on private property, we are not allowed to remove the animal, and it falls on the property owner,” Peltz said.
TDOT and its contract workers are responsible for clearing roadkill on state highways and interstates, Zeigler said. But if the roadkill is impeding traffic, Zeigler advises that people call 911.
How to report
For roadkill that’s impeding traffic, drivers should call 911.
But for roadkill on the side of the road that needs picking up, all three agencies said they rely on the public to notify them:
- On city streets, go to the City of Clarksville website and make a report on their “See, Click, Fix” function.
- On county highways, call the MCHD at 931-648-5740.
- On state highways and interstates, notify TDOT by calling 833-TDOT-FIX (836-8349) or submit a report on the TDOT website.
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