Deer carcasses lying along the side of the road may prompt driver caution, but they aren’t posted there as warning signs.

The coffee shop talk has it that the Wyoming Department of Transportation is slow to pick up deer and other animal carcasses as a reminder to drivers to be on the lookout for animals in the roadway. Don’t believe it. Drivers may make some mental note to be more observant, but it is not a calculated accident prevention road show by the highway department.

The truth is WyDOT will respond as quickly as work schedules allow to clear road-killed deer and other animal carcasses. WyDOT accepts the responsibility to remove animal carcasses and even encourages residents to help by calling WyDOT offices in Cody to report as much specific information as possible about the location of carcasses.

There can be delays. On a recent Sunday, three deer carcasses were counted on U.S. Highway 14-A between Powell and Cody. The bloated and misshapen carcasses indicated they had been there for some time.

The first impulse is to question WyDOT’s commitment. A deeper dive will yield some answers, including how economics in tight budget times can bear on the problem.

This is the WyDOT season of hot mix patching and chip sealing projects all over the district. Crews are working a schedule of four 10-hour days Monday through Thursday. It would be unusual to send someone out on overtime to pick up a deer that is not a hazard. If a deer is hit and killed on a Friday night, the carcass can lie there for several days before it is retrieved. In 100-degree temperatures, it can get bad fast.

Short answer: The commitment is there. WyDOT appreciates the calls. The job of removing carcasses of larger animals from the roadway is accepted as part of a larger mission to serve the people of Wyoming.

The WyDOT number to call in Cody is 307-587-2220. And keep a sharp eye out.