Press Release: Coloradans Applaud House Passage of Wildlife Collision Prevention Act
Bill that will save lives and money awaits Governor’s signature
[DENVER, May 5, 2026] – The Colorado State House today passed the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act (SB26-141), a crucial measure to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions across the state. Introduced by Speaker Julie McCluskie (D, HD-13), Representative Rick Taggart (R, HD-55), Senator Dylan Roberts (D, SD-8), Senate Minority Leader Cleave Simpson (R, SD-6), the legislation passed with bipartisan support and now heads to Governor Polis for his signature. The legislation passed the Senate on April 13, 2026.
“This a great step toward reducing human-animal collisions and keeping everyone that travels our state safe. 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,” said Governor Jared Polis.
Vehicle collisions with wildlife are a significant concern in Colorado, costing lives, damaging property, and placing financial burdens on families. According to roadkill data from the Colorado State Patrol, approximately 7,500 crashes with animals occurred on roads across the state in 2024 alone. (The true number could be 67% higher due to underreporting.) From 2010-24, these tragic accidents resulted in 48 motorist fatalities and 5,152 injuries.
“Wildlife collisions are very common in the High Country, putting drivers and Colorado’s wildlife at risk of dangerous accidents and driving up insurance costs,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie. “Wildlife crossings have shown incredible success at preventing these collisions, with the Kremmling crossing reducing collisions by 92 percent. The legislation that will move to the House will help fund new wildlife crossings to keep drivers safe, save Coloradans money on car insurance costs and protect Colorado’s wildlife.”
State transportation officials nationwide have identified a lack of funding as the primary barrier to building wildlife crossing structures and safer transportation infrastructure for drivers and other road users. The bipartisan legislation introduced today addresses that problem in Colorado by establishing a new “Collision Prevention Fund” with dedicated, annual funding for wildlife crossing projects, including conservation of habitat on either side of the crossings to ensure that animals can continue to access them in perpetuity. This new account will be funded by an optional $5 fee that Colorado residents can voluntarily choose to pay during the vehicle registration process. These dollars can also be used for federal grant match requirements, allowing Colorado taxpayers dollars to be leveraged for a greater return on this initial investment.
“Too many Coloradans on the Western Slope know the dangers and costs that come with wildlife vehicle collisions on our highways. By making smart, targeted investments in wildlife crossings, we can protect drivers, reduce costly crashes, and stretch our state dollars further by bringing more federal funding to Colorado. These projects have a proven track record of cutting collisions dramatically while keeping our iconic wildlife moving safely across the landscape. It’s a practical, bipartisan solution that saves lives, protects property, and delivers real value for Coloradans,” added Representative Rick Taggart.
Wildlife crossing structures – such as overpasses or underpasses that allow animals to safely cross roads – have proven to yield a high return on investment by significantly reducing collision rates. For instance, a series of wildlife crossings on State Highway 9 near Kremmling, Colorado reduced crashes with wildlife by 92%. Across the political spectrum, 87% of Coloradans support building wildlife crossings, according to recent polling.
“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.”
In addition to saving lives, these projects will reduce insurance claims and minimize costly road closures. According to CDOT, every hour the I-70 mountain corridor is closed costs the surrounding communities up to $2 million in lost economic activity. Relatedly, a diverse coalition of interests is working with CDOT to create three new wildlife crossings on I-70 at East Vail Pass that would facilitate safe passage for wildlife – including threatened Canada lynx – in Colorado’s central mountains.
Senate Minority Leader, Cleave Simpson, added, “In rural Colorado, our highways are lifelines for our communities, but they’re also dangerous where drivers can hit our precious wildlife, often resulting in injury or death. These collisions are dangerous, costly, and far too common. Investing in wildlife crossings is a practical infrastructure solution that keeps animals off the road and people safer behind the wheel. This bill is about protecting rural drivers, supporting our local economies, and making smart investments in the infrastructure that helps people get home safely to their families.”
Community Support for legislation
Impacted by Wildlife Vehicle Collisions
“For those that are unfamiliar with driving in the mountains of Colorado, this is a hazard that pops up all the time. Reducing these collisions means reducing emergency responses and just keeping people safe. These systems work and they create a safer environment for everyone – the wildlife included.” - Chris Davenport, Big-mountain skier, a two-time World Extreme Skiing Champion
“One of the driving passions behind the Highway 9 projects was that I lost my parents on that corridor. It was an opportunity for the community to have a safer road. When the project was completed, the wildlife fencing and crossings made a big difference to the safety to traveling on this part of the Highway 9 Corridor.”- Rancher Mike Ritschard
“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. Providing funding to build wildlife crossings could absolutely save people’s lives. Noone should go through what we’ve gone through.” - Mary Rodriguez, whose father was killed in a wildlife-vehicle collision
“I have lived in the Colorado Mountains for over 40 years, and I was in a crash with a 600-pound cow elk after returning from a day of fly-fishing on the Colorado River. The collision totaled the car, and the responding officer could not believe we survived. Not everyone is as fortunate as we were, and most of these crashes can be prevented by building wildlife crossings.” - Dennis Saffell, Vail resident
Emergency Responders
“Investing in crash prevention projects isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do. We can build safer roads for drivers and wildlife alike. Colorado lawmakers have a choice: they can take decisive action to protect lives and preserve our state’s natural heritage, or they can allow these preventable tragedies to continue. The time to act is now.” - Dr. Karen Ekernas, MD, MPH is an Emergency Physician in Denver
“The legislation will make our roads safer for all Coloradans while also helping wildlife migrate between important habitats. Wildlife-vehicle collisions put our state’s drivers and first responders at risk..” - Patrick Lane, senior manager, U.S. conservation project, The Pew Charitable Trusts and volunteer firefighter
Sportsmen Groups
“Wildlife-vehicle collisions cost Colorado drivers an estimated $321 million every year, and in some mule deer herds more does are killed by vehicle strikes than can be legally harvested by hunters. Investing in wildlife crossings is a common-sense solution that protects motorists while keeping migration corridors open for the big game herds that are central to Colorado’s hunting heritage.” - Devin O’Dea, Western Policy & Conservation Manager, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
"This bill will dramatically reduce vehicle collisions with elk and deer by helping to fund installation of crucial wildlife crossings infrastructure at hotspots listed by Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.” - Suzanne O'Neill, Executive Director, Colorado Wildlife Federation
Organizations
“Almost 10 years ago, a survey of 500+ transportation agency representatives identified funding as the #1 barrier to investing in wildlife infrastructure. By ensuring Continuous Funding for Wildlife Collision Prevention, this bill would make our roads safer for both people and wildlife, all while supporting Colorado’s $18 billion outdoor recreation economy.”- Renee Callahan, Executive Director, ARC Solutions
“Today’s House passage of of the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act reflects Colorado’s leadership in addressing long-term protections for its people and wildlife amid habitat loss and increased traffic on our roadways—a priority that is bipartisan nationwide. Polling finds that 87% of Americans support restoring or preserving wildlife habitat connectivity and improving migration corridors on lands and waters within and beyond park borders. Wildlife in Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Curecanti and many other national parks frequently travel outside of park boundaries, and this legislation provides critical and innovative conservation solutions statewide while complimenting recent introduction of bipartisan wildlife crossings bills in Congress.” -Tracy Coppola, Colorado Senior Program Manager, National Parks Conservation Association
"This new, sustainable source of funding will create a better future for wildlife and people, which is what Coloradans and all Americans want. Today, we're excited to celebrate the elected champions who came together to create this framework, and tomorrow we turn toward actions to drive these projects forward." - Katie Davis, Executive Director, Wildlands Network
“Wildlife crossings not only save lives by preventing collisions, but they also keep critical elk, deer, and other wildlife habitat connected by keeping movement corridors intact. These corridors help ensure that Colorado’s big game populations continue to thrive, preserving the state’s rich wildlife heritage and maintaining its robust outdoor tourism economy. The Center for Large Landscape Conservation thanks the state House for passing this bill, and urges Governor Polis to sign the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act into law.”- Greg Costello, U.S. Connectivity Program Director, Center for Large Landscape Conservation
"Wildlife crossings are a proven solution for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions. The passage of this bill will fuel win-win infrastructure projects across Colorado for the benefit of motorists and wildlife." - Julia Kintsch, President, Summit County Safe Passages
“Wildlife crossings that reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity are win-win solutions for people and nature in Colorado. These crossings will become even more beneficial as our climate and the landscape of our state continue to change, creating challenges for wildlife movement. This voluntary funding mechanism gives Coloradans a new way to support future wildlife crossings that reduce human-wildlife conflicts and contribute to a more resilient future.” - Dr. Andrew Rayburn, director of conservation science, The Nature Conservancy in Colorado
"Rocky Mountain Wild applauds the Colorado Legislature's passage of the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act. With nearly 7,500 wildlife-vehicle collisions reported in 2024 alone — and the true number likely far higher — the need for dedicated crossing infrastructure has never been more urgent. This legislation doesn't just protect motorists; it preserves the habitat connectivity that is the cornerstone of healthy, resilient wildlife populations across the Rockies. We look forward to seeing this voluntary funding mechanism put to work building crossings and conserving the corridors that Colorado's wildlife — and Coloradans — depend on."- Paige Singer, Conservation Ecologist/Leadership Team, Rocky Mountain Wild
"This forward thinking bill not only establishes a mechanism to generate the funding to build and maintain new crossing infrastructure, which allows wildlife safe passage over or under our roads, but by enabling the voluntary conservation of lands that border those crossings it allows for a broader, landscape-scale approach. This widened view ensures that wildlife can cross our roads safely, and the natural migration and connected habitats essential to their survival are considered in full. This bill is a chance to protect the iconic Colorado species we know and love, in the places they've always called home."- Brendan Witt, policy advisor, Western Resource Advocates
“Wildlife crossings, like bridges and underpasses, are a proven way for Colorado's wildlife to move across our vast landscapes to find food, shelter, and mates without causing a vehicle collision. By supporting these structures, we all have a chance to improve the safety of our roads and protect the animals that help define our state, ensuring that Colorado remains a place where wildlife can thrive."- Henry Stiles, wildlife and conservation advocate, Environment Colorado
