Louisville, KY — November is peak rut (mating season) for White-tailed Deer in Kentucky. This leads to a dramatic increase in deer movement, often resulting in collisions on major roadways like the Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265), I-71, and Shelbyville Road.

While the Department of Transportation handles removal on public highways, a common and distressing problem for homeowners is when an injured deer wanders onto private property and expires.

Who is Responsible?

Many homeowners assume the city or county will remove a dead deer from their yard. This is generally incorrect.

• Public Roads: If the deer is on the road or the right-of-way, Metro Public Works or the KY Transportation Cabinet will remove it.
• Private Property: If the deer is in your yard, driveway, or woods, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to dispose of it. The city will not come onto private property to remove dead animals.

The Risks of Leaving It

Leaving a deer carcass to decompose naturally in a residential area is rarely a good option.

1. Odor: The smell of a decomposing deer is overpowering and can linger for weeks.
2. Scavengers: It attracts vultures, coyotes, stray dogs, and rats to your property.
3. Insects: It becomes a breeding ground for thousands of flies and maggots.
4. Disease: Decaying carcasses can contaminate soil and water sources.

Our Removal Service

Critter Removal of Louisville offers a dead deer removal service for private property.

• Removal: We physically remove the carcass from your property.
• Disposal: We transport it to a licensed facility for proper disposal in accordance with state laws.
• Sanitization: We can treat the area with lime or disinfectants to reduce odor and bacteria.

Important Note: We cannot dispatch (euthanize) injured deer. If there is an injured but living deer on your property, you must contact Kentucky Fish & Wildlife or local law enforcement. We can only assist once the animal has passed.