Guide to Reporting Wildlife Collisions

Here's the opening and first five H2 sections for the article on reporting wildlife collisions in Alaska.

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You are driving down the Parks Highway near Willow when a moose steps out of the treeline. There is no time to swerve. The impact is sudden and loud. Reporting Wildlife Collisions in Alaska is not optional, it is a legal requirement that varies depending on the animal, your location, and whether anyone is hurt.

Alaska sees roughly 500 to 800 moose-vehicle collisions every year, and that is just one species. Fines for failing to report can reach $1,000, and your insurance claim may depend entirely on whether you filed a report in time. Let us walk through the exact steps so you know what to do when it happens.

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Quick Answer

Report any collision with a moose, bear, caribou, deer, or bison immediately. Call 911 if anyone is injured or the animal blocks traffic. Otherwise, call Alaska State Troopers at their non-emergency line.

Notify ADF&G if the animal is dead or injured. Take photos and record your location. Report within 24 hours to avoid fines.

Why Reporting Matters in Alaska (and What Happens If You Skip It)

Alaska law requires you to report any vehicle collision that kills or injures a wild animal on a public road. This is not a suggestion. Alaska Statute 16.05.550 and related regulations put the responsibility on the driver, and failure to comply can cost you real money.

The consequences of skipping the report include:

• Fines up to $1,000 for failing to notify law enforcement
• A potential citation for leaving the scene of an accident involving an animal
• Denied or delayed insurance claims because you lack a police report
• Legal liability if the carcass causes a secondary collision

There is another reason to report that has nothing to do with fines. Every wildlife collision report helps the Alaska Department of Fish & Game track animal populations and migration patterns. That data influences where highway wildlife crossings get built and where warning signs go up.

As of 2026, Alaska has installed more than two dozen wildlife underpasses and overpasses based partly on collision reporting data.

For more tips on keeping your vehicle in good shape through Alaska's tough conditions, check out our blog for practical maintenance advice.

Your First 60 Seconds After Hitting an Animal on an Alaska Road

The first minute after a collision sets everything that follows in motion. Your brain is probably buzzing with adrenaline. That is normal.

You still need to move through a short checklist before you make any calls.

Step one: stop safely. Do not slam the brakes in the middle of the highway. Pull onto the shoulder as far from traffic as you can. Turn on your hazard lights.

If it is dark or snowy, flip on your interior light so other drivers see you.

Step two: check for injuries. Look at yourself, then your passengers. Anyone bleeding, disoriented, or unable to move? Call 911 immediately.

Do not worry about the animal yet. People come first.

Step three: assess the animal. Is it still alive? Is it standing, lying down, or gone? If the animal is on the road or blocking a lane, that is a traffic hazard.

If it ran off into the woods, you still need to report the collision. Do not chase it. Do not approach it.

Step four: decide who to call. This depends on the answers to steps two and three. We cover exactly who gets what call in the next section.

Step five: document the scene. Use your phone to take photos of the vehicle damage, the animal if visible, the road conditions, and any nearby mile markers. GPS coordinates are even better. This documentation is what insurance adjusters want to see.

The Decision Tree: Key Conditions That Change Your Next Move

Not every wildlife collision is the same. Your next step depends on three conditions. Run through them in order.

Is the Animal Dead, Wounded, or Gone?

This is the first and most important branch.

• Dead animal on the road: Call Alaska State Troopers or 911 if it is blocking traffic. They will dispatch someone to remove the carcass. If you want to salvage the meat, you need to notify ADF&G within 24 hours and apply for a roadkill salvage permit.
• Wounded animal still alive: Do not approach it. Seriously. A wounded moose can kill a person with one kick. Call ADF&G or Alaska Wildlife Troopers. They have the training and equipment to handle it safely. Stay in your vehicle with the doors locked until help arrives.
• Animal ran off: You still need to report the collision. Call Alaska State Troopers on the non-emergency line and tell them what happened. They will advise whether a trooper needs to respond or whether you can file a report by phone.

Are You or Your Passengers Injured?

• Yes, anyone is hurt: Call 911. Full stop. Tell the dispatcher you hit an animal, give your location, and describe any injuries. Do not move anyone who cannot move on their own unless there is fire or immediate danger.
• No injuries: Move to the next question. You will call a non-emergency number instead.

Is the Animal Blocking Traffic?

• Yes, animal is blocking a lane or the shoulder: Call 911 even if no one is hurt. A carcass in the road causes secondary collisions. Alaskan drivers hit carcasses more often than you would think, especially in winter when snow hides them.
• No, animal is off the road: Call Alaska State Troopers on the non-emergency line. They will take your report and determine whether a trooper needs to come to the scene.

Who to Call in Alaska: Alaska State Troopers, ADF&G, or 911?

This is the most common point of confusion for Alaska drivers. Here is a simple breakdown.

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Alaska State Troopers are your primary contact for any animal-vehicle collision on state roads. They will create a police report, which your insurance company will ask for. They also coordinate carcass removal with the Alaska Department of Transportation.

ADF&G handles the wildlife side. If the animal is alive but injured, they dispatch a wildlife trooper or a biologist. If you want to keep the meat from a moose, caribou, or deer, ADF&G issues the roadkill salvage permit.

911 is only for emergencies. Use it when someone is hurt, the animal is actively dangerous, or the road is blocked. Do not call 911 just to ask what to do.

Step-by-Step Reporting Workflow for Alaska Car Owners

Here is the full sequence from the moment you stop the car to the moment your report is filed. Keep this workflow in your glove box or save it on your phone.

1. Stop safely and turn on hazards. Get as far off the road as you can. If you have flares or reflective triangles, set them up behind your vehicle.
2. Check for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 911 immediately. If not, move to step three.
3. Assess the animal. Dead, wounded, or gone? On the road or off? This determines who you call.
4. Call the right agency. Use the table above. Tell the dispatcher your exact location. Mile markers are best. If you do not have a mile marker, describe the nearest landmark, junction, or river crossing.
5. Stay in or near your vehicle. Do not walk into the woods looking for the animal. Do not touch it. Do not try to move it.
6. Take photos. Vehicle damage, animal, road conditions, your location. These photos go to your insurance company.
7. Wait for help to arrive. If you called 911 or AST, a trooper will come. If you called ADF&G, a wildlife officer may respond. Be patient. Remote highways can mean long response times.
8. Get the report number. Before you leave the scene, ask the responding officer or dispatcher for a case or report number. Write it down. You will need it for insurance.
9. Call your insurance company. Do this within 24 to 48 hours. Tell them you have a police report and photos ready. Animal strikes fall under comprehensive coverage in most policies, which means your rates typically do not go up.
10. Apply for a roadkill salvage permit if you want the meat. You must report the collision to ADF&G first. The permit is free. You have a limited window to harvest the meat, and you need to process it quickly in Alaska's conditions.

Here are the next five H2 sections, continuing directly from the existing article.

Moose, Bear, Caribou, or Deer: Does the Species Change How You Report?

The short answer is yes. Alaska law treats different species differently when it comes to reporting and salvage rights.

Moose are the most common large animal involved in collisions. ADF&G wants every moose strike documented. The agency tracks moose populations carefully, and each report helps them manage harvest limits and highway crossings.

You must report a moose collision even if the animal runs off and you have no visible damage.

Bear collisions are less common but more serious from a safety standpoint. A wounded bear is extremely dangerous. Call 911 or Alaska Wildlife Troopers immediately.

Do not get out of your vehicle. Bears can play dead, and they can attack when you get close.

Caribou and reindeer fall under similar rules to moose. Report them to ADF&G if you want to salvage the meat. Caribou herds in Alaska are managed by specific game management units, and the reporting data helps biologists track herd movements across highways.

Deer are less common in Alaska than in the Lower 48, but they do appear in the southeastern and south-central regions. Deer collisions follow the same basic reporting rules. The main difference is size.

A deer hit does less vehicle damage, but you still need to report it.

Muskox and bison are rare but possible, especially near the Dalton Highway and the Copper River Valley. These animals are large enough to total a vehicle. Report them to ADF&G immediately.

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Alaska's Roadkill Salvage Program: What You Can Keep and How to Do It Legally

Alaska has one of the most straightforward roadkill salvage programs in the country. If you hit a moose, caribou, deer, or bison and the animal dies, you can keep the meat. The permit is free.

You just need to follow the rules.

The first step is calling ADF&G to report the collision. You cannot just load the animal into your truck and drive away. That is illegal.

You need a salvage permit number, which ADF&G issues over the phone or online.

The permit allows you to take the meat for personal consumption. You cannot sell it. You cannot leave the carcass on the side of the road after taking the choice cuts.

That creates a hazard for other drivers and attracts bears.

Timing matters. Alaska temperatures can be warm in summer, and meat spoils fast. If you hit a moose in August, you have a few hours to field dress it and get it into a cooler.

If you are not prepared to do that, it is better to let ADF&G handle the carcass removal.

Bears and wolves are not eligible for salvage. You cannot keep the meat from a bear or wolf you hit with your vehicle. Those animals go to ADF&G for research or disposal.

Insurance After a Wildlife Strike: What Alaska Drivers Need to Document

Animal strikes fall under comprehensive coverage in most Alaska auto insurance policies. The good news is that comprehensive claims typically do not cause your rates to go up. The bad news is that you still need to prove what happened.

Your insurance company will want three things: a police report, photos of the damage, and a timeline. The police report is the most important piece. Without it, the adjuster may treat the claim as a single-vehicle accident with no explanation.

That can change your deductible or your coverage.

Take photos at the scene even if the damage looks minor. Get the vehicle damage, the animal if visible, the road conditions, and any mile markers. Alaska winter roads hide details quickly.

If a snowplow comes through an hour later, your evidence is gone.

Call your insurance company within 24 to 48 hours. Tell them you hit an animal and you have a police report. Ask them whether they need the report number right away or whether they will request it from the troopers directly.

Alaska winters mean road salt and sand get kicked up after a collision. If your vehicle's undercarriage or paint took damage beyond the initial impact, document that too. For more on protecting your vehicle from salt damage, check out our guide on does ceramic coating protect against salt.

Common Mistakes That Cost Alaskan Drivers Time, Money, and Legal Headaches

We see the same mistakes over and over. Here are the ones that hurt the most.

Not reporting at all. This is the biggest one. Drivers assume that because the animal ran off, they do not need to call anyone. That is wrong.

Alaska law requires you to report any collision that kills or injures an animal. If someone else hits the carcass later or if a trooper finds the animal dead on the road, they can trace it back to you.

Calling the wrong agency. Calling ADF&G about a dead animal blocking traffic will get you transferred to AST anyway. Calling 911 for a dead moose on the shoulder with no injuries ties up emergency resources. Use the table from earlier in this article.

It saves everyone time.

Approaching a wounded animal. This is not a mistake you get to make twice. A wounded moose or bear can kill you in seconds. Stay in your vehicle.

Wait for trained personnel.

Forgetting to document the scene. Without photos and a police report, your insurance claim gets messy fast. Alaska adjusters deal with a lot of animal strikes. They know the pattern.

Give them what they need.

Leaving the carcass in the road. Even if you think it is small enough to drag off the pavement, do not do it. You can hurt yourself, and you can interfere with the investigation. Let the troopers or DOT handle removal.

Alaska's Legal Side: Reporting Deadlines, Fines, and Compliance Rules

Alaska Statute 16.05.550 is the law you need to know. It says any person who kills or injures a wild animal with a motor vehicle must report the incident to a peace officer or a wildlife officer immediately or as soon as reasonably possible.

The phrase "as soon as reasonably possible" gives you some flexibility. If you are on the Dalton Highway with no cell service, you cannot report immediately. But you must report as soon as you reach a working phone.

Waiting until the next morning when you had cell service three hours earlier could land you in trouble.

The fine for failing to report varies by jurisdiction. Municipal courts in Anchorage and Fairbanks have handled cases where drivers faced fines between $200 and $1,000. The exact amount depends on whether the animal was a game species and whether the carcass caused a secondary accident.

There is one more legal angle that surprises drivers. If you hit an animal and drive away without stopping, you can be charged with leaving the scene of an accident. That applies even if the animal ran off.

Alaska law treats it similarly to hitting a parked car. You stop, you report, you document.

What Changes on Remote Highways (Dalton, Denali, Richardson, Parks)

Remote highways change everything. Cell service drops for miles. Help can take hours to arrive.

On the Dalton Highway, you might be an hour from the nearest tow truck. Carry a satellite communicator or a Garmin inReach. Pack a basic emergency kit with water, flares, and a first aid bag.

If you hit an animal on a remote road, stay put and wait for another driver to pass who can relay your location.

For keeping your vehicle maintained in harsh conditions, our article on engine oil does it wash the engine has practical tips.

When Wildlife Strike Risk Peaks: Seasonal Factors and High-Risk Alaska Roads

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The highest risk months are August through October during moose rut and May through June during calving season. Winter brings longer darkness and animals moving to lower elevations. The Seward Highway near Turnagain Arm, the Glenn Highway around Eagle River, and the Parks Highway near Denali all see heavy wildlife traffic.

Slow down in these zones, especially at dusk and dawn.

Our guide on prepare touchless washing includes useful winter prep tips for Alaska drivers.

Quick Reference: The Alaska Wildlife Collision Decision Guide for Your Glove Box

Print this four-line cheat sheet and keep it in your glove box.

Take photos. Get a report number. Call your insurance within 48 hours.

For common car maintenance questions, visit our blog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to report hitting a bird in Alaska?

No. The law covers wild mammals like moose, bear, caribou, deer, and bison. Birds and small animals like squirrels or porcupines do not require a report.

What if I hit an animal on a military base or national park?

Federal land has its own rules. On military bases and in national parks like Denali, report the collision to the base police or park rangers instead of AST.

Can I keep antlers from a moose I hit?

Yes, but only if you have a roadkill salvage permit from ADF&G. Taking antlers without a permit is illegal and can result in a fine.

Does my insurance cover a hit-and-run animal that damages my parked car?

Yes, comprehensive coverage typically applies. You still need a police report. Call AST and file a report even if the animal is gone and your car was parked.

How long do I have to report a wildlife collision in Alaska?

The law says "immediately or as soon as reasonably possible." Most troopers consider 24 hours the outer limit. Report faster if you can.

What happens if a wildlife officer shows up and I do not have a salvage permit?

You can be cited for possession of game without a permit. The meat and antlers are confiscated. The fine varies by jurisdiction but can reach $500.