Call 911
Call 911 to report a dead animal blocking highway traffic that could cause an accident.

Need something else?

You can report dead animals on a public street or area, on highways, in parks, or in bodies of water. You can also report clusters of dead animals for possible disease testing.

If you see a dead animal on a street or sidewalk, you can report it to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY). DSNY will respond on a priority basis.

You can report a dead animal on the following New York City highways:

  • Belt Parkway
  • Bronx River Parkway
  • Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) / I-287
  • Bruckner Expressway / I-278
  • Clearview Expressway / I-295
  • Cross Bronx Expressway / I-95
  • Cross Island Parkway
  • FDR Drive (FDR)
  • Gowanus Expressway / I-278
  • Grand Central Parkway
  • Harlem River Drive
  • Henry Hudson Parkway / Route 9A
  • Hutchinson River Parkway
  • Interboro Parkway
  • Jackie Robinson Parkway
  • Korean War Veterans Expressway
  • Laurelton Parkway
  • Long Island Expressway (LIE) / I-495
  • Major Deegan Expressway / I-87
  • Martin Luther King Expressway / Route 440
  • Mosholu Parkway
  • Nassau Expressway / Route 878
  • Prospect Expressway / Route 27
  • Richmond Parkway
  • Sheridan Expressway / I-895
  • Staten Island Expressway / I-278
  • Throgs Neck Expressway / I-695
  • Van Wyck Expressway / I-678
  • West Shore Expressway / Route 440
  • Whitestone Expressway / I-678
  • Willowbrook Expressway

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

You can report a dead animal on Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) property.

This includes:

  • City parks
  • Public beaches
  • Recreation Centers
  • Sidewalks next to DPR property

DPR also responds to reports of dead animals on public property such as:

  • Ponds
  • Streams
  • Small bodies of water
  • Parkways

State and Federal Parks

You can report a dead animal in a park or beach run by New York State or the federal government. Contact the park directly to report the dead animal.

Popular State parks in the NYC area include:

  • East River State Park
  • Jones Beach
  • Hudson River Park

Popular parklands in the NYC area operated by the federal government include:

  • Jacob Riis Park
  • Fort Tilden
  • Gateway National Recreation Area

Fish

You can report large groups of dead fish in the major harbors and bays surrounding New York City, including:

  • Jamaica Bay
  • Sheepshead Bay
  • New York Harbor

Online

Report dead fish in a harbor or bay.

By Phone

  • Agency: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Division: Local Fish and Wildlife Division
  • Phone Number: (631) 444-0714
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Birds

You can report a cluster of dead birds to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

The agency will investigate reports of:

  • 3 or more dead geese, swans, ducks, chickens, or turkeys
  • 10 or more other dead birds

DOHMH may collect some of the animals for West Nile Virus testing. An investigation will determine if the animals will be collected.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

Other Animals

Small Body of Water

You can report a dead animal in a small body of water, such as a pond or a stream.

Large Body of Water

The New York Police Department Harbor Unit responds to reports of dead animals (except for birds, rodents, or fish) in a:

  • River
  • Lake
  • Bay
  • Sound
  • Ocean
  • Other large body of water

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

You can report a cluster of dead animals to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

DOHMH will investigate reports of:

  • 3 or more dead geese, swans, ducks, chickens, or turkeys
  • 10 or more of other dead animals

DOHMH may collect some of the animals for testing. An investigation will determine if the animals will be collected.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

 Was this information helpful?   Yes    No