Our original mission of
wildlife-vehicle collisions:
Photo credit: Daniel Rakes
Our First Mission: Highway 74 Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions
Wild Aware was founded in 2019 to identify methods to mitigate high rates of wildlife-vehicle collisions on Highway 74. This collaboration with Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has resulted in the temporary placement of programmable signs for periods of time in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Permanent signs may be placed on Highway 74 in 2023.
In 2024, the goal of Road Aware is to expand our reach into the many Jefferson County highways in our area, including but not limited to Highway 73, Brookforest Road and Buffalo Park Road.
We continue to search for the most effective ways to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.
We have worked with many state and local wildlife agencies, law enforcement, road and highway agencies, non-profit groups, and volunteers in our efforts to educate residents and visitors about wildlife and to help reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions in our community. Our Road Aware project will continue to work on these issues. Please join this team if you would like to be involved in wildlife-vehicle mitigation efforts.
Read notes from Wild Aware’s first meeting with CDOT in January, 2020.
Photo courtesy of Christie Greene
More about our work:
Click here to see slides illustrating our journey of trying to have a wildlife underpass built at Stagecoach and Highway 74.
Launched our website, publish quarterly newsletters, and set up social media accounts
Received our Letter of Determination from the IRS to approve our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
Formed Wildlife Watch, a collaborative effort with Denver Parks and Recreation and Evergreen Audubon to share wildlife and environmental information and educational materials with visitors to Evergreen Lake
Designed and provided “Welcome” flyers for new residents and delivered as part of Neighborhood Welcome’s home visits; over 2000 flyers distributed
Conducted game camera studies of the Fillius Park underpass in Evergreen to document wildlife moving regularly through the tunnel. (SEE PHOTO BELOW)
Hosted a field visit with CDOT and contractor specialist in September 2020 and shared Wild Aware game camera footage
Organized teams to manage our community outreach, education opportunities, marketing, events and more.
Designed and produced colorful yard signs for our community per Jeffco guidelines.
Worked with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) in Spring 2020 to install a drainage grate at an Evergreen culvert after a fawn was trapped there. We also encouraged CDOT to place two large, portable Variable Message Signs (VMS, see photo below) on Highway 74 during periods of time in 2020, 2021 and 2022, resulting in fewer wildlife-vehicle collisions. CDOT plans to install two permanent VMS signs on Highway 74 in 2023.
Established relationships with Jefferson County Commissioners, Jeffco Transportation and Engineering Division, and JEFFTAAG— the Jefferson County Transportation Advocacy and Action Group. Invited to participate as a stakeholder for Together Jeffco’s Transportation Mobility Plan revision.
Foster ongoing discussions with Jeffco Open Space, Jefferson County, Evergreen Fire/Rescue, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Denver Parks and Recreation, Evergreen Audubon, Evergreen Parks and Recreation District, Colorado State Patrol, and several non-profits— including Evergreen Sustainability Alliance, Rocky Mountain Wild, Jeffco Bear Coalition and Colorado Bear Coalition.Formed a Barbed Wire Removal Team to tackle the never-ending task of removing disused barbed wire from parks and private property. Invited to participate in a Denver Mountain Parks stakeholders’ group.
Organized a bear study group, the Wild Aware Bear Book Club.
Filius Park underpass-Photo courtesy of Jake Forsline
Portable Variable Message Sign (VMS) added to Highway 74 intermittently throughout 2020, 2021 and 2022.