Wildlife collision prevention act passes in senate

On Monday the Colorado State Senate passed the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act, a bill introduced by Senator Dylan Roberts, Senate Minority Leader Cleave Simpson, Speaker Julie McCluskie and Representative Rick Taggart to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions across Colorado. The bill passed with bipartisan support, and will head to the State House of Representatives. 

If passed, starting in January 2027, an optional collision-prevention fee of $5 can be collected when registering your vehicle. 

“This is a great step toward reducing human-animal collisions and keeping everyone that travels our state safe,” said Governor Jared Polis in a press release. “I am excited to build upon our great work across Colorado, including the I-25 Greenland Wildlife Crossing, which is the largest in North America. These efforts can reduce these crashes by more than 90%, saving lives and money, and will expand on our success to build more infrastructure across Colorado to keep human and animal travelers safe.”

Wildlife crossing structures have proven to not only allow animals to safely cross roads, but also significantly reduce collision rates. 

Wildlife crossings on State Highway 9 near Kremmling have reduced wildlife related crashes by 92%. 

According to a report conducted by the Aspen Times last year, in 2024 7,497 animals were killed on Colorado roadways, with deer unsurprisingly accounting for the majority. 

Counties surrounding Gunnison, such as Ouray and Nathrop, have introduced these safe crossings, but where does Gunnison come into the picture? 

A 20-mile stretch of Highway 50 in Gunnison accounted for 71% of reported deer kills in 2024. Highway 135 is also at high risk.

Gunnison community members know the issue first hand, and have to live with its consequences. Last month Gunnison local William Tuck Jr. hit a deer on his motorcycle and was sent to the hospital. 

Vehicle collisions, especially with wildlife, are a constant issue in Colorado and in Gunnison, costing property damage, placing financial burden onto families who in some cases are already struggling, and taking lives.

Roadkill data from the Colorado State Patrol shows that in 2024 about 7,500 crashes with animals were reported on roads across the state. The data also notes that the true number could be 67% higher due to underreporting. 

In the past decade, animal-related accidents have resulted in over 5,000 injuries and 48 fatalities.

“We are excited to give Colorado drivers the opportunity to build the Collision Prevention Fund and ensure that our state is strongly investing in wildlife crossing and safety infrastructure - a proven way to prevent collisions, stop human and animal deaths, and save drivers money,” said State Senator Dylan Roberts. “There’s very little that we can do in government that is over 90% effective – but wildlife crossings are that rare solution.” 

“My father was coming home from a weekend away in the mountains with family, and an oncoming motorist hit an elk that stopped my dad’s vehicle dead in its tracks. It dawned on me when my father was killed that there was no wildlife fencing or protection for animals or for humans in that stretch of highway,” said Mary Rodriguez, whose father was killed in a wildlife-vehicle collision. “Providing funding to build wildlife crossings could absolutely save people’s lives. No one should go through what we’ve gone through.”