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Officials look to build more wildlife crossings in Colorado

Posted at 2:15 PM, Jul 29, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-29 16:15:04-04

FRISCO, Colo. (AP) — Data from a Colorado Department of Transportation road kill survey says drivers in Colorado killed nearly 7,000 wild animals last year, resulting in two human deaths and almost 400 injuries.

The Summit Daily News reports that represents a roughly 50 percent increase in wildlife collisions over the past four years.

Data shows the recent construction of several wildlife crossings on Colorado Highway 9 appear to be working. Since the Colorado Department of Transportation completed two overpasses and five underpasses on a 10-mile stretch of road, collisions have decreased by 87 percent.

Federal, state and local officials have identified other hot spots where they would like to build wildlife crossings, specifically on Interstate-70 east, Colorado Highway 91 and Highway 9.