Can I Keep Bones of Animals That I Find Along the Road?

May 9, 2019

Question: I saw an opossum dead on the side of the road (not playing possum, but actually dead!). I wanted to take it home to keep the bones but I left it there untouched because I didn’t know the laws on that. If I find an animal like that, can I take it home and process it? If I can’t, is there anyone I can talk to about keeping the bones after the state processes it? (Wynter P.)

Answer: Road-killed wildlife may not be retained by the driver of the vehicle that hits the animal, nor by anyone else. Only authorized personnel of state and/or local agencies are permitted to dispatch and remove injured or dead animals (Fish and Game Code, section 2000.5). In addition, some teachers or instructors can obtain a scientific collecting permits to retain road killed specimens for educational purposes as specified in CCR Title 14, section 650.