Yes, Vermont law permits the salvage of certain roadkill under strict wildlife conservation statutes, provided specific conditions are met. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VFWD) regulates the practice to balance public safety, ecological integrity, and resource utilization, with recent 2026 amendments tightening reporting requirements for black bear and moose carcasses to curb illegal trafficking.
Key Regulations for Keeping Roadkill in Vermont
- Species Eligibility: Only legally classified “unprotected” wildlife (e.g., deer, turkey, squirrels) may be salvaged; threatened or endangered species (e.g., bobcats, eagles) are strictly off-limits under 10 V.S.A. § 4082.
- Notification Protocol: Salvagers must report findings to the VFWD within 24 hours via its online portal or hotline (802-828-1100), with mandatory GPS coordinates for moose or bear carcasses post-2026.
- Possession Limits: Carcasses may be retained for personal use (e.g., taxidermy, consumption) but cannot be sold without a VFWD-issued salvage permit, per 10 V.S.A. § 4709. Commercial disposal (e.g., rendering) requires adherence to Agency of Natural Resources waste management guidelines.
Non-compliance risks civil penalties up to $1,000 or misdemeanor charges for falsified reports, as outlined in the 2024 Wildlife Enforcement Directive. Local law enforcement may confiscate unreported carcasses under joint VFWD-Agency of Transportation protocols.