Lewes District Council

Dead animals

We are responsible for arranging the removal of certain wild and domestic dead animals from public highways and rights of way.

Dead animals include dead cats, dogs, badgers, foxes and larger animals such as deer. We aim to remove these within 48 working hours of being reported.

When you report a dead animal please ensure you have the following information ready:

Where it is
Brief details about the animal, such as type, colour, size
The time/date at which you saw the animal.

Fallen livestock

If a fallen livestock - horse, cow, sheep, pig or goat - is found on a public highway or private land, please report it. The Animal Health Officer at East Sussex County Council's Trading Standards should be contacted on 01273 483153 . They will attempt to find the owner of the fallen livestock. Failing that the following applies:

Where livestock has died or is dumped on private land the responsibility for disposal rests with the landowner.
Where stock has died or been dumped elsewhere, including on public land or highways, and ownership of the carcass cannot be ascertained, our Environment Health Services will arrange for the fallen livestock to be disposed of by an approved/licensed contractor.

Injured deer

Injured deer should be reported to the RSPCA on 0800 1234 999.

Dead deer on public highways

If a dead deer is found on a public highway – this could cause a hazard to road users and therefore it should be reported to East Sussex Highways on 0345 6080193. The highways personnel would normally move the dead deer at least away from the road and place it on the side of the road rendering it safe for our street cleaning staff to collect.

Dead deer on public highways including Rights of Way

A dead deer found on public highways including bridleway, foothpath, by-ways and RUPP (Road Used as Public Paths) will be collected by our street cleaning staff with an aim to collect within 48 working hours. Please call Customer Services on 01273 484999 or you can use the online fault reporting system above.

Dead deer on private land

Dead deer on private land is the responsibility of the landowner to remove. However, we may be able to remove it where practicability possible.

Alternatively the National Fallen Stock Company has registered and licensed collectors in the area.

Dead deer in woodlands/forest/farmland/parks

If the deer has been found dead in the woodland, forest, farmland, park – the person reporting it will need to establish the ownership of the land in question and contact them. If the park is owned by us, please report this to our Customer Services.

Dead deer in a watercourse

If a deer has been found dead in a watercourse, the person reporting it must contact the Environment Agency to report an environmental incident. They have their own contracts in place to remove dead animals from watercourses.

Dead deer and Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD)

If the person reporting a dead deer suspects that the deer was infected with FMD or is on FMD protection/surveillance zones (see below for more information) they must report it to the Divisional Veterinary Manager (see below).

The same applies for known/suspected cases of Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) and other infectious diseases outbreaks.

Divisional Veterinary Manager
Reigate Animal Health Office
Liberty House
105 Bell Street
Reigate
Surrey
RH2 7JB

Email: AH.Reigate@animalhealth.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone: 01737 242242
Fax: 01737 241189

A Protection Zone (PZ) extends for at least 3km around the infected premises and a Surveillance Zone (SZ) extends for at least 10 km around the infected premises.

Whales, dolphins and other large marine life

Where large marine life, such as whales, dolphins, other porpoises and seals are washed on to the local shoreline please call (giving an exact location with reference to maps and local landmarks and features where possible);

If it is alive, contact British Divers Marine Life Rescue or the RSPCA.

If it is dead contact Natural History Museum on 0207 942 5155

Dead birds

If you find 10 or more dead wild birds including seagulls or garden birds please do not touch them. Contact the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on their helpline on 08459 335577.

They may wish to have the birds examined for signs of specific diseases. They may advise you on what action you should take if required.

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