Colorado Lawmakers Consider Bill to Fund Wildlife Crossings

Proposed legislation would raise funds for construction of wildlife crossings to reduce vehicle collisions by 90%.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 7:35am

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Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would raise funds for the construction of wildlife crossings and other safety measures to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions near migration corridors. The bill would allow motorists to pay an optional $5 fee when registering their vehicles, with the funds going towards the construction of wildlife crossings that have been shown to reduce collisions by 90% on average.

Why it matters

Wildlife-vehicle collisions in Colorado cost more than $320 million annually in lost wildlife, emergency response, injuries, and vehicle repairs. The proposed legislation aims to address this issue by providing funding for effective wildlife crossing solutions that protect both motorists and wildlife.

The details

The bill, Senate Bill 26-141, would help provide matching funds required to tap into federal grant programs for wildlife crossing construction. Colorado has the highest annual collision costs of any western state, with almost 55,000 crashes between motorists and wildlife reported from 2010 to 2024. However, it's estimated that up to two-thirds of such crashes go unreported. The recently completed Interstate 25 Greenland Wildlife Overpass, the largest crossing over a major roadway in North America, has connected 39,000 acres of habitat and demonstrated the effectiveness of these crossings.

  • From 2010 to 2024, almost 55,000 crashes occurred between motorists and wildlife in Colorado.
  • The Interstate 25 Greenland Wildlife Overpass, the largest crossing over a major roadway in North America, was recently completed.

The players

Suzanne O'Neill

Executive director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation.

Mike Leahy

Senior director of wildlife, hunting and fishing policy for the National Wildlife Federation.

Senate Bill 26-141

The proposed legislation that would raise funds for the construction of wildlife crossings in Colorado.

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What they’re saying

“From 2010 to 2024, almost 55,000 crashes occurred between motorists and wildlife. Now these are the ones that were reported. CDOT estimates that up to two thirds of such crashes are not reported.”

— Suzanne O'Neill, Executive director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation

“The wildlife crossings program makes sure that money is available to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions in these areas, save human lives, save wildlife, and also help wildlife move around the state.”

— Mike Leahy, Senior director of wildlife, hunting and fishing policy for the National Wildlife Federation

What’s next

If passed, Senate Bill 26-141 would provide funding for the construction of wildlife crossings and other safety measures to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions in Colorado.

The takeaway

Colorado's proposed legislation to fund wildlife crossings is a proactive approach to addressing the significant costs and risks associated with wildlife-vehicle collisions, which threaten both human safety and wildlife populations. By investing in effective crossing solutions, the state can protect motorists and preserve critical wildlife habitats.