Monday shed light on the resource constraints facing first responders on Colorado’s eastern plains during massive snow storms like we had late last week.
On Tuesday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) shared another issue facing the region in the aftermath of heavy snow: a threat to wildlife.
The agency said more than 100 pronghorn – a small ungulate believed to be the fastest animal in the Western Hemisphere, according to CPW – have been killed on eastern plains roadways since a snowy stretch dumped as much as 40 inches in some spots.
That includes 52 that were killed on US 36 east of Byers. CPW offices in the state's northeast and southeast regions posted graphic images of pronghorn carcasses on social media.
Pronghorn gather on roadways after snowstorms for a few reasons. First, walking on pavement is easier than walking in deep snow. Second, they prefer to crawl under fences rather than jump over them, CPW says, and heavy snow on the ground can block their path to doing so. Third, pavement is warmer than the snow-covered grasslands pronghorn prefer. Some pronghorns may even sleep on roadways.
A section of US 36 near Byers was among several areas the Colorado Wildlife & Transportation Alliance identified as top-priority projects in 2023. The group, which aims to reduce wildlife collisions in our state, has advocated for a wildlife crossing in the area.
In this case, CPW said it is difficult to know whether a wildlife crossing would have prevented a collision because the animals were using the roads to avoid snow and ice as they travel.
- Earlier this year, Scripps News Denver went in-depth on the effort in Colorado to protect animals through the addition of wildlife crossings across the state. View that report here.
CPW urged motorists to slow down when driving on the plains after snow storms. It also encouraged land owners on the plains to plow fields to create space for pronghorn to gather away from roadways.
What should I do if I encounter an animal on the roadway?
Colorado State Patrol warns that animals on the road can force "difficult decisions" for motorists.
CSP says drivers who have the time and space should honk their horn and slow down in a straight line to come to a stop. Drivers who don't have the time or do have traffic behind them should drive through, staying in the lane and with a "slight angle towards the butt of the animal ONLY if by the white side lane line."
“The worst choice you can make is to swerve outside your lane or slam on your brakes with vehicles behind you,” Major David Rollins, District 4 Commander for CSP, said in a press release. “People can end up in serious crashes when they let their emotions take over to save Bambi or his friends.”
CSP's other tips for drivers when it comes to wildlife include staying alert, being aware of signage indicating wildlife activity, using high beams for visibility and warning other drivers of wildlife by honking your horn. It also recommends being aware of peak season and of the potential for herds – where one deer or elk exits, for example, there are likely more.
