Dead animals
Roadside litter
Roadside litter is a fast-growing litter problem. High levels and speeds of traffic on A-roads (e.g. the A12) mean that clearing roadside litter can be dangerous.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 makes allowance for this. Litter clearance that may need road closure is to be performed where “practicable”. Where possible, it is included as part of other scheduled road works.
The Councils’ litter clearance work on the A12 and the A14 is covered in a partnership scheme with Ipswich Borough Council.
Dead animals
The Councils remove dead animals from the public highway and on council-owned land as part of our street cleansing service.
In most cases, the animals we remove are wild animals involved in road traffic accidents, such as badgers and deer. The work can also include domestic pets and livestock.
The service does not cover the removal of dead animals from private land or trunk roads (A12 & A14). Discretion is used when deciding whether to remove small dead animals (e.g. rabbits or rodents) from rural areas.
Once removed, dead animal carcasses are disposed of as quickly as possible.
We are unable to keep dead animal carcasses for private burial. We will try to contact the owner of a dead animal found with a microchip or contact details on a tag.
Dead animals that need to be removed from the public highway or council-owned land can be reported online:
Street Cleansing Report It Form
If you wish to report a dead animal on the road, central reservation or the verge of the A12/A14, please call the Highways Agency (for England) on 0300 123 5000.
Birds
If you find 5 or more dead birds in one location, this should be reported to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Dead Animals
If you wish to report a dead animal in a water course this should be reported to the Environment Agency
Marine mammals
The Councils are responsible for removing dead marine mammals washed up on the tidal shores of (within the districts):
- the River Orwell
- the River Stour
Stranded or dead whales or dolphins should be reported to the Cetacean Strandings Investigating Programme