Anyone who drives on roads or highways where wildlife is present knows doing so can be dangerous, if not deadly for critters and humans alike.
The state of Colorado created more than 30 passages so deer, elk and others animals can avoid traffic. In fact, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) says wildlife-related crashes are down nearly 90 percent along Colorado Highway 9 south of Kremmling.
“Roads all over the state run right through these migration paths, when they go back and forth a lot of animals are hit on the highway every year,” Joe Lewandowski, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson, told the Denver Post. “We’re very enthused about how CDOT is paying a lot of attention to this. There are many, many needs in transportation across the state and this is just one of them.”
“At the (Durango) underpass we’re seeing a large number of mule deer going through the structure daily,” Mark Lawler, Colorado Department of Transportation biologist, told the Denver Post. “Animals are using the structure; we’re not just moving the problem.”
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation provided funding toward purchase of the cameras that document the wildlife movement.
(Photo source: Colorado Department of Transportation)