Elk NetworkColorado Ramps Up Wildlife Underpass, Overpass Program

General | May 10, 2019

There were more than 4,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions in 2018 in the state of Colorado. And more people are taking notice.

“When people hit a deer or an elk, usually they move it off of the side of the road just to the shoulder,” Tammy Johnson of Montrose told Colorado Public Radio. “Typically, before, there would be a deer and then the next day would it would be gone. But now I feel like they’re always there.”

The Colorado Department of Transportation is taking action. So far, crews installed more than 400 miles of wildlife fencing to keep animals off the roads and push them toward crossing points. Colorado has more than 50 designated wildlife crossings and more planned.

(Photo source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife)