A white-tailed deer forages for food at Radnor Lake State Park in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
A black bear is seem passing through the Kenilworth Estates in South Nashville, Tennessee. The bear was struck by a vehicle, according to Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency.
Crows accidentally killed by motor vehicles in Tennessee can legally be taken to eat, but could carry illness.
A white-tail deer at Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers. Taken with a Canon R5 Camera and a 100-500mm lens.

In some states, it’s illegal to catch fish with a lasso or hunt wild animals from a moving vehicle. But when it comes to roadkill, the rules are a bit more flexible — depending on the animal and the circumstances.

Many states allow certain animals accidentally killed by vehicles to be taken for personal use and consumption. And eating several species should be done with caution as they come with serious risks including parasitic infection and leprosy-causing bacteria.

Overall, the laws vary by state. While wild game roadkill are usually allowed to be picked up and taken home to eat in many parts of the country, some animals accidentally killed by a motor vehicle first require state notification, a license and other steps.

In some jurisdictions, a law enforcement officer must be notified within 48 hours if a person wants to keep a deer accidentally killed on the road. The person must also provide their name and address.

For example, to take a bear found on the road in Tennessee, you must first get permission and a "kill tag" from a Wildlife Resources officer. But other wild game animals like elk and turkeys don't require any tags or notifications.

What roadkill can be eaten without notification?

In some states, there are 18 smaller animals, or small game species, that can legally be consumed if killed by a vehicle, according to officials.

They often include rabbit, quail, grouse, armadillo, mink, weasel and otter.

While animals like rabbit, quail and grouse are commonly used in the culinary arts, other animals that are legally allowed for consumption may pose health risks.

Armadillo, mink, weasel and otter all hold varying degrees of risk associated with consumption.

Armadillos carry a high risk among game animals, as the species is known to be the only non-human species to carry mycobacterium leprae, the bacteria that causes leprosy, according to the Emerging Pathogens Institute at the University of Florida. Although mink, weasel and otter can be cooked, readysetfeast.com warns the animals can also contain harmful bacteria and parasites.

While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.

Foxes, bobcats and coyotes can be infected with trichinosis, a parasitic infection. According to the Mayo Clinic, trichinosis is transmitted with the consumption of undercooked meat and can lead to the parasite making “a home in muscle tissue.”

Other animals in the small game category are:

  • Squirrel
  • Beaver
  • Groundhog
  • Muskrat
  • Opossum
  • Bullfrog

Roadkill with bills: What's edible?

Animals with bills are considered wild game, and they are all generally edible.

Dove, woodcock, gallinule, moorhen, rails and snipe are commonly consumed. But crows — another bill — is genuinely not recommended for consumption due to being prone to carrying harmful bacteria.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Is roadkill legal to eat? The laws vary by state. Here’s what you need to know

Reporting by Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean / Nashville Tennessean

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