Breaking News: Colorado Deer Still Refuse To Look Both Ways
Oct 2, 2026, 1:04 PM | Updated: 1:21 pm
Hear ye! Hear ye! Let this declaration be known far and wide – Wildlife Crash Season is officially open.
Let’s face it; driving in Colorado is a lot like the game “Frogger”…but in real life…with four-legged locals like elk and deer instead of frogs.
Colorado State Patrol says fall is one of the busiest times of year for wildlife-related crashes because animals are migrating to lower elevations and, frankly, have other things on their minds. It is also mating season, which means deer and elk are not exactly paying attention to traffic laws.
The numbers keep climbing, too. Troopers responded to more than 3,900 wildlife crashes in 2025, continuing a trend that has been increasing for several years.
Some of the biggest wildlife hotspots in Colorado include I-70 near Floyd Hill and Eagle, I-25 between Castle Rock and Larkspur, U.S. 285 near Morrison, and several mountain highways across the state.
The best advice? Slow down, especially around dawn and dusk. Keep an eye on the roadside, and remember: if you spot one deer, there is a good chance its entire friend group is right behind it.
In other words, this fall, the biggest hazard on Colorado roads might not be construction. It might be a distracted elk on a date.
