Press Release: Wildlife Collision Prevention Act Becomes Law
Coloradans applaud law that will save lives and money
[DENVER, May 27, 2026] – Coloradans today celebrated the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act (SB26-141) being signed into law. The law is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions across the state. Introduced by Senator Dylan Roberts (D, SD-8), Senate Minority Leader Cleave Simpson (R, SD-6), Speaker Julie McCluskie (D, HD-13), and Representative Rick Taggart (R, HD-55), the legislation passed out of both chambers with bipartisan support and was signed by Governor Jared Polis.
“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,” said Mary Rodriguez, whose father was killed in a wildlife-vehicle collision. “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. Signing the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act into law will provide funding to build wildlife crossings that can absolutely save people’s lives. I am thankful our state acted to make sure no one goes through what we’ve gone through.”
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 Department of Transportation (CDOT), over 7,700 crashes with animals occurred on roads across the state in 2025 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.
Rancher Mike Ritschard added, “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 of traveling on this part of the Highway 9 Corridor. Thanks to the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act, I am hopeful other communities will be able to install similar safety measures along their roadways.”
State transportation officials nationwide have identified a lack of funding as the primary barrier to building wildlife crossing structures.
The bipartisan legislation signed into law 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. 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. For example, funds can be matched by the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program – which provides $350 million to be spent over five years on building such crossings – and was recently reauthorized with $400 million in the BUILD America 250 Act, a bipartisan transportation bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“For those that are unfamiliar with driving in the mountains of Colorado, this is a hazard that pops up all the time. These systems work and they create a safer environment for everyone – the wildlife included. By signing the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act into law, we can now reduce these collisions and keep people and wildlife safe,” added Chris Davenport, a big-mountain skier and two-time World Extreme Skiing Champion.
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.
“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,” said Dennis Saffell, a Vail resident. “The collision totaled the car, and the responding officer could not believe we survived. Not everyone is as fortunate as we were, and thanks to the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act, most of these crashes can now be prevented by building wildlife crossings.”
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 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.
Community Support for legislation
State Elected Officials
“Colorado is known for our world-class outdoors and amazing wildlife, and that is why we will expand safe travel options for humans and animals – keeping everyone who calls Colorado home safe. Colorado is a national model for reducing human-wildlife collisions and this new law will build on that success.” - Governor Jared Polis
“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. There’s very little that we can do in government that is over 90% effective – but wildlife crossings are that rare solution. I’m thrilled that our multiple years of bipartisan work has led to this day of getting the bill signed into law.” - State Senator Dylan Roberts
“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.”- Senate Minority Leader, Cleave Simpson
“The success of the Kremmling wildlife crossing has made it clear that wildlife crossings help prevent dangerous accidents. Wildlife collisions are common on the Western Slope, which not only makes road travel risky, but also drives up car insurance costs and impacts Colorado’s ecosystem. Our new bipartisan law creates more opportunities to build wildlife crossings, saving lives and protecting Colorado wildlife.” - Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon
“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.” - Representative Rick Taggart
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. SB26-141 will save lives.” - Dr. Karen Ekernas, MD, MPH is an Emergency Physician in Denver
“Colorado’s elected officials, in both parties, understand that wildlife crossings significantly reduce collision rates. In fact, the series of wildlife crossings completed in 2016 on State Highway 9 near Kremmling, Colorado, reduced crashes with wildlife by 92%. In addition to saving lives, these projects will reduce the number of insurance claims and minimize costly road closures. The Wildlife Collision Prevention Act will make roads safer for all Coloradans while also helping wildlife migrate between important habitats. Wildlife-vehicle collisions put the state’s drivers, first responders, and iconic wildlife at risk. This bill creates an opportunity for Coloradans to voluntarily help fund a proven solution, and it creates the financial certainty that state agencies need to complete these much-needed roadway safety projects. “- 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
“Signing the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act into law today 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 complementing 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 legislature and Governor Polis for making the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act the law of the land.”- 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 Governor Polis signing the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act. With nearly 7,700 wildlife-vehicle collisions reported in 2025 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
“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
"This forward thinking law 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 new legislation will help protect the iconic Colorado species we know and love, in the places they've always called home."- Brendan Witt, policy advisor, Western Resource Advocates
