Short answer
Put out the warning triangle, mark the spot and call 112. Under section 40 of the Hunting Ordinance the driver must do this as soon as possible when a moose, a deer, a roe deer, a wild boar or any of the other listed animals has been involved. If you do not, you can be fined.
More than 200 wildlife collisions a day
The Swedish Transport Administration’s figure for 2025 is 73,300 wildlife collisions, reindeer included. Many go unreported: the agency estimates that the real number is probably 20 percent higher, perhaps more. It helps to know what to do before it happens to you.
The animals you must report
The duty covers bear, wolf, wolverine, lynx, moose, deer, roe deer, otter, wild boar, mouflon and eagle. Deer means both red deer and fallow deer. You must report it even if the animal does not look injured.
If you hit another wild animal, such as a hare or a fox, there is no formal duty to report it to the police.
What to do at the scene
- Warning triangle first, so that nobody else drives into the accident.
- Mark the spot with wildlife accident tape. If you have none, use something visible, such as a plastic bag. Hang it on the side of the road where the animal disappeared.
- Wild boar, bear, wolf or lynx: place the tape about 100 metres from the accident and tell the police.
- Call 112 and report the accident. Mark the spot even if the animal is dead, so that other road users can see it has been reported.
- If a dead animal is on the road, move it if you can, but think of your own safety.
- Do not search for an injured animal yourself, and do not try to put it down unless you know how. Its suffering can get worse.
What the police want to know
Most important is where it happened: road number, place and a landmark. SOS Alarm’s 112 app sends your GPS position. Otherwise you can reset the trip meter, drive to a place you recognise, such as a junction, a church or a rest area, and read off the distance.
The police also want to know how you marked the spot, which animal it was, whether there were one or more, and which way it went. According to the National Wildlife Accident Council, wrong locations are very common, and an injured animal then often lies suffering for a long time.
What happens after the call
The 112 call is put through to the police regional command centre. The police then phone one of the National Wildlife Accident Council’s contact people in the municipality, who is responsible for that part of the road network. The contact person follows set routines so that an injured animal can be put down and taken care of as quickly as possible. Keep your phone close afterwards: the tracker may need to call you to find the right place.
Who gets the dead animal and what applies to insurance is covered by Jaktkursen in its guide to wildlife accidents (in Swedish).
Keep some tape in the car
Wildlife accident tape is free. A few at a time are available at police stations, vehicle inspection stations and the Swedish Transport Administration’s regional offices and driving test centres, so if you take your theory or driving test you can pick some up at the same time. A couple in the glovebox makes it easier to do the right thing when it happens.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to call the police if I hit a roe deer?
Yes. Roe deer is one of the animals listed in section 40 of the Hunting Ordinance, so you must mark the spot and call 112, even if the animal looks unharmed or is dead.
What happens if I do not report it?
Not notifying the police is a criminal offence and can lead to a fine, according to the National Wildlife Accident Council.
What if I hit a hare or a fox?
For wild animals other than those listed in the Hunting Ordinance there is no formal duty to report to the police. The National Wildlife Accident Council says you should still make sure the animal is put down and, if possible, removed from the road, but always think of your own and others’ safety.
Where can I get wildlife accident tape?
It is free. A few at a time are available at police stations, vehicle inspection stations and the Swedish Transport Administration’s regional offices and driving test centres.
Sources
- Hunting Ordinance (Jaktförordningen 1987:905), section 40 (Swedish)
- National Wildlife Accident Council: What to do if you collide with wildlife
- National Wildlife Accident Council: Tracking of injured wildlife (Swedish)
- National Wildlife Accident Council: Getting wildlife accident tape (Swedish)
- Swedish Transport Administration: Wildlife collisions (Swedish)
Rules can change. Always check the current requirements with the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) before booking a test.