New law lets public salvage roadkill wildlife with permit from RIDEM

RHODE ISLAND — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) has announced a new regulation that allows the public to collect certain wildlife killed in vehicle collisions.

The law will make it easier for RIDEM to address wildlife vehicle collisions and take the burden off state employees by allowing the public to salvage the animal with a permit.

The permit must be granted within 24-hours of collecting wildlife struck by a vehicle. In order to receive a permit the species, estimated age and sex, a photo, and location must be provided via RIDEM’s website or by calling (401) 789-0281.

Eligible animals include white tailed deer, turkeys, beavers, coyotes, fishers, red and gray foxes, muskrats, pheasants, squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons. While fisher and foxes have additional requirements.

The new legislation also expands reporting requirements to include most wildlife collisions that cause significant vehicle damage. This helps DEM’s Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) track populations and improve highway safety.

The permit allows the collection of one animal killed only by vehicular collision and injured animals cannot be killed for salvage, however, law enforcement may euthanize and allow salvage.

The legislation sponsored by Chairman of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee David Bennett and Senate Majority Whip David Tikoian was recently passed.