The increasing number of wildlife-involved motor crashes is becoming a significant problem for both wildlife and humans. Colorado officials are looking into building more wildlife crossings.
A few weeks ago, we released an article describing a growing issue of moose taking over I-70. Young bulls are being pushed further and further east by older bulls due to growing moose populations. These growing populations are GREAT for conservation ... but not so great for the safety of animals and human drivers alike. Luckily, officials are exploring options to build more wildlife crossings to minimize the ongoing and increasing issue of animal-on-car collisions. Data released by CDOT revealed drivers in Colorado have killed almost 7,000 wild animals in 2016. Of these collisions, there were two human deaths and 400 injuries. The biggest victim of these crashes? Bambi.
While 7,000 deaths is a daunting number, moves are being made to alleviate the problem. CDOT's data also shows some positive aspects. The recent construction of several wildlife crossings on Colorado Highway 9 proves to be working. Since CDOT built two overpass and five underpass wildlife crossings along the 10-mile stretch of road, roadkill and collision reports have gone down by 87 percent. Learn more about the project here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niniDS2yArU
This project is a great example of how communities and government can come together to create a positive force and facilitate change in a growing issue. The success of the project will allow CDOT to move forward and get to work on constructing more of these overpasses and underpasses to protect both wildlife and drivers.
Currently, based off CDOT's data, officials are moving toward identifying other hot spot areas where wildlife crossings need to be built, specifically addressing the moose issue on I-70 east, as well as Colorado Highway 91 and Highway 9.
What do you think about the construction of wildlife crossings to protect animals and drivers? Would you like to see more of them on your commutes? Let us know in the comments below!