The Colorado Department of Transportation urges Montezuma County drivers to be on the lookout for wildlife on the move.
Collisions with wildlife on highways are highest in the fall — particularly mid-September through November.
In Colorado, there were 3,437 collisions with wildlife reported to law enforcement in 2013, down from 4,016 in 2012 and below the 10-year average of 3,605. Of the 3,437 collisions, 3,183 involved vehicle damage, 250 involved injuries, and four involved fatalities, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation Traffic and Safety Division.
“While enjoying the beautiful scenery along our state highways, please watch for wildlife on or near the road,” Colorado State Patrol Chief Scott Hernandez said. “Since more than 12 percent of the crashes investigated annually by the CSP involve animals, I encourage all drivers to avoid distractions and be aware of their surroundings at all times.”
Montezuma County was in the top 10 counties across the state with high traffic collisions with wildlife.
In 2013, these counties topped the 100 mark: La Plata County at 252 wildlife-vehicle collisions; Jefferson County, 248; El Paso, 201; Douglas, 199; Garfield, 128; Moffat, 116; Larimer, 106 and Montezuma, 106.
“What’s interesting is that we do see trends in wildlife-vehicle collisions statewide by year,” CDOT biologist Jeff Peterson said. “When looking at the 10-year picture, there is a peak in most counties in 2004, again in 2012, and most counties saw a decrease this past year. While engineers can and do build mitigation features into highway projects — these statewide trends point to the need for drivers to mitigate as well.”
Wildlife-vehicle collisions happen year round, 24/7. However, there is always an increase during migration seasons — typically November for fall and June for the spring — and the majority occur during the hours between dusk and dawn. These collisions are not only a matter of safety, but can be quite costly as well.
“The average cost of deer-vehicle collisions is $3,400,” Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association said. “So, drivers need to make sure they’re insured by purchasing optional comprehensive coverage or end up paying out-of-pocket for damages.”
Nationwide, the insurance industry pays out nearly $1.1 billion a year in claims for all wildlife-vehicle collisions.