How to Dispose of a Dead Animal in Mississippi

It depends on the city. Jackson's code says dead animals "shall not be placed in garbage containers for regular collection," and Biloxi's says "Dead animals shall not be placed in garbage containers." Gulfport's code says small dead animals are stored in watertight covered cans until the sanitary department collects them, and Hattiesburg's that small dead animals are stored in covered containers until the garbage department collects them; neither defines "small." Madison County's contractor will not accept dead animals over 10 pounds. Ask your city or hauler before putting one out.

Some cities allow it, with conditions. Jackson's code lets a resident bury a deceased pet within their own property at a minimum depth of four feet, after obtaining the written consent of the superintendent of animal control. Hattiesburg's says buried carcasses must lie at least three feet below ground but no more than eight, with at least three feet of earth on top. Oxford's says that, apart from cows, horses and other large animals, carcasses are to be buried at least two feet deep by the owner or disposed of as the city sanitation department directs. There is no statewide burial depth for pets or wildlife in the sources we reviewed.

The Mississippi Board of Animal Health's carcass rule, Chapter 7, covers livestock. It requires burial deep enough to prevent odours, at least two feet of compacted cover, and setbacks of 150 feet from a neighbour and 300 feet from a dwelling. It does not mention pets or wildlife, so it is not a rule for a raccoon in the yard.

Where a carcass can go depends on the animal and on what the local landfill or waste service accepts. MDEQ's list of active solid waste facilities does not say which sites take carcasses, so the facility has to be asked. Hattiesburg's code says disposal at a city landfill is arranged with a city animal control official.

For a single dead bird, the Board of Animal Health's bird-flu FAQ advises not touching it with bare hands, double-bagging it and putting it in household garbage, or burying it. It says an occasional dead bird is normal, and asks that five or more dead wild waterfowl, shorebirds or raptors in one place be reported to USDA Wildlife Services at 662-325-3014 or through its online form. Federal rules let any person salvage a migratory bird found dead and require disposal within 7 calendar days, with separate rules for eagles and listed species. How Mississippi's possession rules apply to collecting a bird that is already dead is not addressed in the sources we reviewed.

The Mississippi State Department of Health advises against handling or touching live or dead wild animals that can carry rabies, such as raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes and coyotes. It says not to handle bats that seem to be dead, and that any bat that may have had contact with a person or pet should be tested; its Office of Epidemiology is at 601-576-7725.

MDWFP's rule makes it unlawful to transport any portion of a cervid carcass outside a CWD Management Zone (40 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2, Rule 2.7). The MDWFP pages we reviewed do not say how that applies to a deer found dead on private property; in a zone county, ask MDWFP at 1-800-BE-SMART before a carcass leaves the zone. For hunter-harvested deer, MDWFP's guide recommends leaving unwanted parts at the harvest site, double-bagging them for an approved lined landfill, or burying them 8 feet deep or more. The deer guide sets out the zones.