Wild Eyes

Watch, React, Protect:

Safer Roads for People & Wildlife

Developing your Wild Eyes is a skill

Spotting wildlife is a skill that is important to develop because improving our ability to spot wildlife allows us to:

  • See and enjoy animals from a safe distance while observing them in their natural habitat.

  • Quickly spot wildlife if they are near/on a road to allow us to avoid a wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC).

Can you spot the deer?

HOW TO SPOT WILDLIFE

Many people think of animals as being so well-camouflaged that it makes them nearly invisible.

Yet regardless of the setting – whether you are in an urban environment or hiking in the backcountry – there are basic principles to follow that can help improve your chances of spotting wildlife.

We are searching for 3 characteristics:

  • The odd Color

  • The odd Shape

  • Movement in the landscape

  • Look at the breaks in the landscape, such as a shoreline or where a forest meets grassland.

  • Scan the easy surfaces, such as an open field

Focus your attention on areas where you are most likely to have success spotting these 3 things.

VEHICLE TIPS TO PREVENT WILDLIFE-VEHICLE COLLISIONS (WVC):

Keep your car windows & lights clean and your car in good working order (especially your tires and brakes) so you can see and react quickly.

Know that vehicle headlights have an illumination range of 200 to 250 feet.

Be aware of the stopping distance of your vehicle under normal conditions and how road quality or inclement weather conditions can lengthen this distance.

Video credit to: Safe Routes Utah

The Cost of Wildlife Vehicle Collisions

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (2024):

  • There are, on average, 3,300 *reported WVC’s each year in Colorado

  • In Jefferson County in 2023, there were 2,700 total crashes with 1 fatality and 306 occupants injured

  • The average estimated property damage cost as a result of these incidents was $3,103

Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions aren’t just dangerous and costly – they can be incredibly traumatic.

Click here to take the Wild Aware Community Survey: Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Perspectives

Check Out These Videos on Safe Driving

WHY WE SEE WILDLIFE ON ROADS

Why did the deer, elk, bear, moose, or other animal cross the road?

To get to:

Better food/water sources

Mating activities

To follow their migration routes

Food on/near roads (such as litter or road salt)

GENERAL TIPS TO PREVENT WILDLIFE VEHICLE COLLISIONS

Heed Road Signs: Reduce speed if you see an animal crossing sign – these signs indicate that you are in a high-risk area.

Pay Attention to Other Vehicles! Watch other vehicles for clues that there might be wildlife ahead: Are oncoming vehicles flashing their lights at you? Did traffic suddenly come to a halt in an unexpected place?

Use High beams: Use your bright light setting as much as is safe.

Scan: Scan the road and shoulders constantly. Watch for any sign of movement or the shining eyes of animals.

Consider Time of Day: Wildlife is most active at dusk through dawn. Deer and elk are most frequently hit at dusk and dawn, while bears and moose are more likely to be hit at night.

Be Wary of High-Risk Areas: Examples include areas with vegetation or a water source near the road or where fencing ends (*but remember that animals can be very agile and jump fencing).

In Evergreen, Mile Posts 4-7 on Highway 74 see the highest rates of WVC (hotspots are near Stagecoach Park at MP 5.2 and near Safeway at MP 6).

Seasons Matter: Be extra cautious during hunting and mating season (fall) and during times of migration.

EVERGREEN NOTE: Highway 74 has more WVCs in June & July than any other month (likely due to calving season).

When you see something brown, do you first assume it is a tree stump or deer?

Train your eyes to assume an object is an animal until you can clearly discern otherwise.

I SEE AN ANIMAL ON THE ROAD: NOW WHAT?

“Experts in different fields provide different advice about ways for drivers to respond when animals are on the road. There is no one single correct way in which to respond for every circumstance. Drivers must always be alert and be prepared to respond to different situations.”

- Wildlife Resource Sharing Centre

  • Slow Down in a Straight Line and Stop: Do NOT swerve as it can lead to a loss of control of your vehicle.

  • Warn Other Drivers: Put on your hazards and flash your lights to warn other vehicles behind you and oncoming traffic.

  • Do NOT Honk, Especially at a Herd: Animals do not understand a horn as a danger signal, and honking will only confuse and frighten them. Instead of a herd moving cohesively across the road, they will be more apt to scatter.

  • Pay Extra Attention to Herd Animals (like deer, elk, and antelope): If you see one, more are bound to follow.

  • Remember That Animals are Unpredictable: Even though wildlife may be off to the side as your car approaches, or even on the other side of the road, animals may suddenly attempt to flee in any direction. They may inexplicably leap into the road or they might be crossing the road and suddenly turn back. There is no way to predict what they will do.

WHAT TO DO IF A CRASH IS UNAVOIDABLE

  • If you have time and space: Slow down to a stop in a straight line.

  • If time is tight (and no car behind): Brake hard but keep a straight line. DO NOT SWERVE!

  • If time is tight (with a car behind you): Drive straight through, slightly angling toward the animal’s rear. Swerving could lead to more dangerous crashes.

  • Moose Exception: If you see a moose, swerving can be safer. Because of their massive size and height, moose-vehicle collisions can be fatal. If you can safely do so, steer away from the moose. If you cannot avoid a collision, try to duck below the windshield level and towards the door frame – this will offer better protection if the moose lands on the vehicle.

“More collisions are caused by drivers swerving to avoid collisions with animals, and instead hit other vehicles or losing control of their own vehicle!”

- Wildlife Roadsharing Resource Centre

MAINTAIN CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE!

WHAT TO DO AFTER A CRASH

  • Move off the Road: Safely pull over and put on your hazards (or do something to warn other drivers).

  • Don’t Approach Injured Animals: They could be dangerous or injure themselves further.

  • Report the Crash: Call the Colorado State Patrol at *CSP (277) to report wildlife-related crashes.

More than anything, the best thing you can do to avoid a WVC is to:

Stay alert and pay attention

Limit distractions

Always be primed to see an animal around the corner

From the Colorado Driver Handbook:

Staying alert allows you to be prepared to stop well ahead of time. Stopping suddenly is dangerous and usually points to a driver that is not paying attention.

When you brake quickly, you could skid and lose control of your vehicle. You also make it harder for drivers behind you to stop without hitting you.

SAFE DRIVING RESOURCES

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