Report Sick or Dead Wildlife

Detecting and monitoring for disease outbreaks and mortality events.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's Wildlife Health Program investigates reports of wildlife disease and large-scale die-offs affecting wild mammals, amphibians, fish, reptiles, and birds.

Report Sick or Dead Wildlife

	CALL Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-858-1549 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern) on weekdays.
	CONTACT your county's regional wildlife biologist.

Please include the following information when reporting observations:

The species of animal (such as red-tailed hawk or white-tailed deer).
The number of animals observed sick or dead.
The location where you saw them.
The date they were observed.
Any clinical symptoms or abnormal behavior observed.
Your contact information.

Disease Monitoring Programs

The Wildlife Health Program has disease monitoring programs for specific wildlife species:

Muskrats
Turkeys or other wild birds
Deer and elk

Observations of these species can also be submitted online through the links below, in addition to being reported to the general line or a regional wildlife biologist.

Sick or Dead Deer and Elk

The Wildlife Health Program seeks reports of deer or elk that are acting strangely or appear ill.

Report

Sick or Dead Birds

The Wildlife Health Program seeks reports of groups of dead birds (5 or more) as well as birds that are displaying neurologic issues, abnormal growths, or other signs of illness.

Report

Sick or Dead Bats

The Wildlife Health Program seeks reports of sick or dead bats (5 or more). Reports of bat colony locations and any changes in bat colony sizes can also be reported through the reporting form.

Report

Hunters: Did Your Harvest a Turkey With Wart-Like Growths on Its Head?

If a hunter harvests a turkey with walike growths on its head or legs, The Wildlife Health Program is asking the hunter to submit the carcass for disease testing.

Learn More

For Your Safety

Avoid handling injured, sick, or dead wildlife.
If handling a dead animal is necessary, wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling.
Avoid coming into contact with wildlife droppings or body fluids (such as blood, saliva, or urine) without proper protective equipment, such as gloves, eyewear, and/or face masks.
Some wildlife diseases and parasites can be passed on to pets. Do not allow pets to scavenge on carcasses or come into contact with a sick or dead animal.
Keep your distance from any mammal behaving strangely, as it may carry rabies (rabies is 100% fatal for all mammals, including people, if untreated).
If you have been exposed to or bitten by a diseased animal, contact your physician or county health department for further guidance.

Wildlife Health Program

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Report Sick or Dead Wildlife

Report Sick or Dead Wildlife

​​​​​​​​​​Detecting and monitoring for disease outbreaks and mortality events.​