THE person who skinned a kangaroo and left it by the side of the road at Bunya Creek last week might have committed a criminal offence, a Fraser Coast wildlife carer has said.

Natalie Richardson said she contacted the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection after the discovery of the dead roo and queried whether taking the roo's hide was legal or illegal.

She said that a spokesperson from the department told her than it was an offence to take anything from a dead animal and to do so would require a permit.

According to the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, taking or interfering with unprotected wildlife could bring penalties of up to $55,000 and or five years in prison.

The Chronicle was contacted by a woman last week after she happened on the distressing sight of a skinned kangaroo on the corner of Woods Rd and Booral Rd at Bunya Creek on May 7.

The woman, who did not want to be named, was driving when she first saw the kangaroo and later returned to take photos of the animal.

The kangaroo was collected by the Fraser Coast regional Council along with another kangaroo that had been hit by a car in Booral.

The woman who found the animal was especially concerned that children might see the kangaroo as school buses regularly travelled along the road.

At the time, Ms Richardson said it appeared the kangaroo had been professionally skinned.

On the Chronicle's website, the story attracted outraged comments from Fraser Coast residents.

One reader said that even if the roo were road kill, it could have been disposed of in a more discreet manner rather than leaving it where kids could view its "skinless and lifeless body".