In the event the dead animal is wildlife, the species of the dead animal may need to be reported to state or federal wildlife officials. For example, many species of birds cannot, by law, be moved or kept because of the Migratory Species Act of 1918 (even if the bird died of natural causes). If the animal is an endangered or threatened species and you found it dead, reporting it to authorities helps them track populations of animals and how they are faring. For example, if a rare animal such as a wolverine were dead on my land, wildlife authorities request the public report it to help them with wildlife species census tracking.
In any case, I would bury a deceased animal unless it was necessary to contact authorities for the reasons listed above. If the animal appeared to be a "companion animal," I would make an effort to make contact with the responsible people if there were any identification on the animal.
I would not merely "throw the animal into the garbage" as too many here wrote, it seems disrespectful, first of all, and secondly, it will attract scavenger animals to raid the garbage to reclaim the remains to consume it. If the animal was not a shooting or poisoning victim, better to leave the remains out where the carrion eater (vultures) can find the remains and quickly do their job.
What would you do if you found a DEAD ANIMAL on your property?
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Just a note for reference:
In the event the dead animal is wildlife, the species of the dead animal may need to be reported to state or federal wildlife officials. For example, many species of birds cannot, by law, be moved or kept because of the Migratory Species Act of 1918 (even if the bird died of natural causes). If the animal is an endangered or threatened species and you found it dead, reporting it to authorities helps them track populations of animals and how they are faring. For example, if a rare animal such as a wolverine were dead on my land, wildlife authorities request the public report it to help them with wildlife species census tracking.
In any case, I would bury a deceased animal unless it was necessary to contact authorities for the reasons listed above. If the animal appeared to be a "companion animal," I would make an effort to make contact with the responsible people if there were any identification on the animal.
I would not merely "throw the animal into the garbage" as too many here wrote, it seems disrespectful, first of all, and secondly, it will attract scavenger animals to raid the garbage to reclaim the remains to consume it. If the animal was not a shooting or poisoning victim, better to leave the remains out where the carrion eater (vultures) can find the remains and quickly do their job.