United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 WS Directive 2.515 05/18/11

DISPOSAL OF WILDLIFE CARCASSES

1. PURPOSE

To provide guidance to Wildlife Services (WS) personnel on the disposal of wildlife 

carcasses.

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

This directive revises WS Directive dated 07/30/03.

3. POLICY

All wildlife carcasses, whether whole or in part, will be disposed of in a manner 

consistent with Federal, State, county, and local regulations and WS Directive 2.210, 

Compliance with Federal, State and Local Laws and Regulations. Furs, animal parts, or 

edible meat may be donated, salvaged, sold or transferred in accordance with WS 

Directive 2.510, Fur, Other Animal Parts, and Edible Meat.

Carcass retrieval is often necessary for zoonotic disease management, ecological, 

environmental, scientific or public sensitivity purposes. In these instances, WS personnel 

will make a reasonable effort to retrieve and dispose of wildlife carcasses that result from 

WS’ wildlife damage management activities.

If chemical euthanasia is used, WS personnel will comply with procedures outlined in the 

WS Field Operations Manual for the Use of Immobilization and Euthanizing Drugs and 

WS Directive 2.430, Controlled Chemical Immobilization and Euthanizing Agents. 

Animals euthanized with drugs that may pose secondary hazards to scavengers must be 

disposed of according to Federal, State, county, and local regulations, drug label 

instructions, or lacking such guidelines, by deep burial, incineration or at a landfill 

approved for such disposal. See WS Field Operations Manual for the Use of 

Immobilization and Euthanizing Drugs, June 2001 and WS Directive 2.505, Lethal 

Control of Animals for additional guidance.

Wildlife carcasses being transported or temporarily stored in a facility or vehicle should 

be covered or placed totally out-of-sight of the general public. Vehicles shall be kept 

clean of associated materials such as fur, feathers, blood, animal tissue or other parts to 

the extent practicable. 
4. DISPOSAL

All disposals will be made in a manner consistent with Federal, State, county, and local 

regulations. Methods listed below are approved for disposal of wildlife carcasses, or parts 

thereof, unless otherwise prohibited.

a. Field Disposal and Burial. Wildlife carcasses may be discarded or buried on the 

property where they were killed or recovered, or deposited on another cooperator's 

property if approved by the respective property owner. Carcasses may be composted 

following appropriate Federal, state and local laws. All disposals will be made in a 

manner which demonstrates WS' recognition of public sensitivity to the viewing of 

wildlife carcasses.

b. Landfill Sites. Wildlife carcasses or parts may be disposed of at public or private 

landfills where such facilities are approved for animal disposal. Carcasses should be 

placed in dark plastic bags or other wrapping. Carcasses shall not be deposited in 

roadside or commercial business refuse dumpsters unless prior approval to do so has been 

obtained from the dumpster owner or lessee. Carcasses shall not be disposed of in

household trash containers.

c. Incineration and Field Burning. Wildlife carcasses may be incinerated in approved 

facilities that comply with Federal, State, and local regulations. Open burning should be 

avoided due to potential fire hazards except when this method is required by regulations 

and can be conducted safely.

d. Donation, Salvage, Sale or Transfer. Wildlife carcasses or parts may be donated, 

salvaged, sold or transferred when authorized by the State Director, in compliance with 

existing cooperative agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, and all applicable 

Federal, State, and local laws and regulations. Refer to WS Directive 2.510, Fur, Other 

Animal Parts, and Edible Meat, for guidelines.

5. REFERENCES

WS Directive 2.210, Compliance with Federal, State and Local Laws and Regulations

(10/27/09).

WS Directive 2.505, Lethal Control of Animals (05/18/11).

WS Directive 2.510, Fur, Other Animal Parts, and Edible Meat (10/08/03).

WS Directive 2.430, Controlled Chemical Immobilization and Euthanizing Agents

(07/06/09).

WS Field Operations Manual for the Use of Immobilization and Euthanasia Drugs, June 

2001.

Deputy Administrator