Dead animals or fish found on your property
How to clean up and report suspicious fish or wildlife deaths on your property.
How to report fish die-off
Call the fish die-off line whenever you find numbers of dead or dying fish, particularly if the fish show signs of disease. This will help us:
- understand diseases and how they spread
- improve disease management
- protect fish populations
If you discover a fish die-off, contact the:
Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)
If you suspect the fish died because of a spill, call the:
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP)
Spills Action Centre
When you report a fish die-off, you will be asked for:
- your name
- address
- phone number
- details about the fish
- the location of the fish
We will ask you details about the fish, including:
- the kind of fish (baitfish or game fish)
- the species, if you know it (such as walleye, bass)
- how many (such as a dozen, a hundred, a thousand or thousands)
- condition (such as dead, dying or decomposed)
- visible signs of illness (such as pale gills, bloated abdomens, bulging eyes and bleeding)
We will ask you about the location and conditions where you found the fish, including:
- waterbody (such as Lake Scugog or Lynde Creek)
- closest municipality (such as Port Perry or Whitby)
- location or landmarks (such as 100 metres east of the boat launch, south of the bridge)
- recent weather or environmental conditions
How to report bird deaths
If you see significant numbers of dead birds in one location, or if you see a few dead wild birds, especially:
- waterfowl
- American crows
- common ravens
- black-billed magpies
- blue jays
Contact:
Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative
Online reporting tool
How to report bat deaths
If a person had direct physical contact with a bat, report the incident to your local health unit, doctor or local emergency department.
To report unusual bat activity or deaths where no people or pets have had any direct physical contact with the bat, contact the:
Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative
Online reporting tool
To report impacts to a species at risk or its habitat:
- Use the Report pollution online form to tell us about impacts to a species at risk or its habitat.
- Telephone: Call the public reporting hotline toll-free at
1-866-MOE-TIPS (663-8477) , 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also contact your local MECP district office if you need additional help to report impacts on species at risk or their habitat.
How to report dead wildlife that showed signs of rabies
If the wild animal showed signs of rabies and there was no direct physical contact with people, pets or livestock, contact the:
MNR Wildlife Health Information Line
rabies@ontario.ca
Learn more about reporting a wild animal that you suspect might have rabies.
How to report sick or strange-acting cervids (members of the dear family)
To report cervids that show signs of illnesses such as Chronic Wasting Disease or Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease contact:
- Sick cervid reporting tool (alive or dead)
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative
Tel: 1-866-673-4781
Online reporting tool
Remove dead fish or wildlife from your property
Individual landowners are responsible for the cleanup of their own property.
In most cases, dead wild animals can be put in the garbage or buried.
Contact your municipality for local guidance.
Municipalities are responsible for the public properties that they own. This includes municipally owned public beaches.
How to handle dead fish or wildlife
When handling dead fish or wildlife, be sure to:
- wear protective equipment (such as gloves and eye protection)
- throw away any used disposable protective equipment in the garbage or sanitize reusable equipment
- wash your hands thoroughly after handling carcasses
- disinfect any tool that came into contact with the animal
Learn more about the safe handling and disposal of dead wild animals.