We Were Lucky. The Deer Wasn't.

by Patrick King

On Friday May 5, driving down valley on 82, on the final leg of a long travel day coming home from vacation, I was the latest RFV resident to hit an animal on 82. It was bitterly cold, a full moon, and the roads were a little slippery. Traffic was moving slow, but the car in front of me suddenly slammed on its brakes and swerved off the road to avoid the deer. I had no time to react and ha a car next to me. There was no choice but to slam on my brakes and hit the deer. 

The deer was dead instantly, another preventable, needless loss of wildlife. One less animal in a population of wildlife that's already stressed by the development and recreation the RFV has seen.  Thankfully myself, my wife, and two-year old daughter were all fine. The $1000 deductible I paid my insurance company was an expense my family was not budgeting for and I'll be without my truck for a week or two.

It's impossible to prevent all wildlife/vehicle collisions, especially in a place like the RFV, but the rate that they're happening on 82 is unacceptable. It's dangerous and expensive for drivers, and harmful to our precious wildlife. All things considered, I think we were pretty lucky, we avoided other cars, no one was hurt, and I was able to drive my truck home. But how much of this are we going to take before taking the issue seriously and investing in sensible solutions to wildlife/vehicle collisions. I'm realistic and know that overpasses are huge investments that take years, but can we be fixing current fencing, adding new fencing, making existing under passes usable to limit these collisions? 

Luckily, there's a citizen-led org leading this work. I urge you all to consider supporting the work of Roaring Fork Safe Passages in whatever way you can. I've donated personally and will continue to do so.