JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Bills to Make Colorado Safer by Reducing Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions, Enhancing Backcountry Search and Rescue Operations

Legislation would boost safety for motorists and wildlife, support backcountry search and rescue teams

FRISCO, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a pair of bills into law to improve public safety in Colorado.

SB22-151, championed by Senators Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and Tammy Story, D-Conifer, and Representative Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, will reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve safety for wildlife and motorists on Colorado highways.

The new law creates the Colorado Wildlife Safe Passages Fund, which will fund Colorado Department of Transportation projects for wildlife crossing projects on stretches of roads and highways with high rates of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs), or where the ability of wildlife to move across the landscape has been hampered by high traffic volumes.

“Wildlife corridors are a commonsense way to protect motorists, keep wildlife safe, and ensure habitats stay intact,” said Danielson. “I am proud to champion this new law that will help ecosystems thrive and make sure our wild places continue to power Colorado’s economy for future generations.”

"Whether it's an experienced skier or a first-time backpacker, sometimes nature has a different plan, and Colorado's brave backcountry search and rescue teams are standing by to save lives," McCluskie said. “The law Governor Polis signed today will improve backcountry search and rescue operations and help ensure that these critical programs have the resources they need. I’m proud the governor also signed my legislation to improve and create safe wildlife crossings, which will reduce accidents and protect travelers on our roads.”

“Colorado is home to an abundance of wildlife that we need to protect,” Story said. “By investing in wildlife corridors along our highways, we will keep our wildlife safe and prevent dangerous collisions for our motorists.”

Wildlife-vehicle collisions cost Colorado motorists millions of dollars per year and endanger the lives of both people and wildlife. Colorado law enforcement reports an annual average of nearly 4,000 WVCs, though officials estimate a more accurate figure is 14,100 WVCs per year when unrecorded collisions are taken into account.

WVCs can have tragic consequences, including substantial human injuries and fatalities, thousands of animal deaths, and an annual cost of approximately $80 million in property damage, emergency response, medical treatments, and other costs.

Polis also signed into law SB22-168, championed by McCluskie and Senator Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, which will improve backcountry search and rescue operations in Colorado by moving these responsibilities to Colorado Parks and Wildlife within the Department of Natural Resources and boosting funding by $1 million to support search and rescue efforts. 

“The growth in backcountry activities has put a strain on the search and rescue volunteers needed to keep folks safe,” Donovan said. “I’m proud to champion this new law that will support the dedicated men and women who work to save lives in Colorado’s backcountry.”

The bill also establishes a sustainable funding stream for search and rescue efforts, and makes the dependent of a person who died or was permanently disabled while conducting rescue efforts eligible for free tuition at state higher education institutions.