Watch for Wildlife

November 4, 2020 Lost Creek Guide Page 7

Several Counties Move To Tighter Restrictions Watch for Wildlife, Avoid Collisions During As Coronavirus Cases Rise Daylight Saving Time

By Claire Cleveland DENVER - Changing your clocks with your driving habits during daylight saving time

Five counties, including Adams, Denver and Arapahoe, with high rates of positive tests, can help prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions. Wildlife experts advise drivers that wildlife is case counts and hospitalizations are enacting tighter restrictions to stymie the spread of on the move so be aware, drive with caution, and slow down especially at night. the coronavirus, as COVID-19 cases rise across the state. This Sunday, Nov. 1, marks the end of daylight saving time in Colorado. This means

On Sunday, cases hit a record high with more than 2,100 reported. As of Tuesday, Oct. drivers will set their clocks back an hour, see dusk earlier, and witness more wild animals 27, the 7-day average rate on new cases was 1,377 cases and the rate of positive tests was migrating to their wintering habitats during rush hour traffic on highways. 7.69 percent. More than 1,400 new cases were reported by the state, with 538 people As the sunlight fades hospitalized. during high-volume

Last week, the state health department issued an order limiting personal gatherings to no more than 10 people, from no more than two households. Several commutes, Colorado Parks and Wildlife asks drivers to stay alert and counties have taken share roads with wildsteps to re-institute life. Autumn is peak searestrictions, but all are sonal mating and migracounting on residents tion for many species, so to take individual drivers should watch for action to prevent wildlife as they begin to a return to April’s experience darker comstatewide shutdown. mutes. Adams County As the sunlight fades during high-volume commutes, stay alert “We all want to move

Hart Van Denburg/CPR NewsThe City and County of Denver’s free, drive-up COVID-19 testing facility at the has seen “skyrocketing” cases and moved from Level 2 to 3, which takes effect 5 p.m. Wednesday. around safely, humans and wildlife alike,” said District Wildlife Manager Devin Duval, who oversees the Vail area. “With colder weather, big game species are moving to lower ground, which is where most of the state’s roads and communities are found, so we encourage drivers to be mindand share roads with wildlif e. Pepsi Center on June 23, 2020. That’s the second- ful of wildlife.” highest level available; The Colorado Department of Transportation also advises motorists to stay vigilant, the next tightest would be the stay-at-home order issues this spring. Restaurants and retail drive with caution and slow down, especially now that several snowstorms have taken will be limited to 25 percent capacity and gyms can only offer outdoor or virtual services, place and pushed wildlife from the high country into lower elevations. as compared to Level 2 when 50 percent capacity was permitted for most businesses. “Big game like deer, elk and moose are making their way to the terrain where they can

Denver is also moving to Safer At Home Level 3, while Arapahoe, Otero and Crowley more easily find food and water,” said CDOT Wildlife Program Manager Jeff Peterson. counties are all moving to Safer at Home Level 2, which restricts restaurant and indoor “In Colorado, approximately 4,000 wildlife-vehicle collisions are reported each year. The event capacity, indoor events to 100 people, outdoor events to 175 people and outdoor rec- seasonal movements of these animals can cause increased wildlife-vehicle collisions if reation activities like gathering in a park to 10 people. The restrictions in Otero and Crow- drivers are unaware more wildlife is on or near the roadways.”ley counties will kick in on Friday. On Monday, Mesa County moved to Safer At Home Level 1 and La Plata moved to Safer At Home Level 2, according to state reports. Pueblo County is at risk of moving to Safer at Home Level 3 as well, as the county’s twoIn an effort to decrease the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions in Colorado, CDOT has collaborated with CPW to study, gather data and construct migration structures designed week cumulative incident rate is at 337 cases. Pueblo Public Health Director Randy Evetts for wildlife to safely cross busy highways. Migration structures include wildlife overpasssaid a stay-at-home order is “not inevitable” but the county’s numbers are “trending in es, underpasses, escape ramps, and wildlife guards and high fences along highways. that direction.” One successful wildlife transportation solution is the Colorado Highway 9 Wildlife midst of the COVID19 pandemic, our health care providers need more certainty, not less.

The CARES Act, enacted in March 2020, established the PRF to reimburse eligible health care providers for health care-related expenses and lost revenues attributable to Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy. Crossing Project. In 2016, CDOT in cooperation with CPW and many other partners comGardner Secures New Certainty for 9 between Green Mountain Reservoir and Kremmling. This innovative solution to keep CO Health Providers wildlife off a busy road resulted in a 90 percent reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions in that area. To learn more about wildlife crossings in Colorado, visit codot.gov.

At Gardner’s Request, HHS Changes Reporting Require- Although Colorado is working to construct more safe passageways for wildlife on highments That Could Disadvantage Rural Hospitals ways, motorists still play a critical role in preventing wildlife-vehicle collisions. CPW and

Washington, D.C.– The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued CDOT offer several precautions that should be followed year-round, but especially during a revision to its reporting requirements for providers that have received Provider Relief the fall daylight saving time change. Fund (PRF) payments, after U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) and 30 of his U.S. Senate • Slow down. Moderate speeds maintain a driver’s reaction time and allow an apcolleagues raised concerns with HHS Secretary Alex Azar about the requirements having propriate response to animals on or near roads. the potential to create financial hardships and uncertainty for hospitals across the coun- • Stay alert. Pay close attention to the roadway, particularly between dusk and try, especially those operating in rural areas. dawn. “In the midst of the COVID19 pandemic, our health care providers need more cer• Scan ahead. Watch for movement and shining eyes along roadsides. tainty, not less. The CARES Act, enacted in March 2020, established the PRF to reimburse • Obey traffic signs. Many highways have wildlife warning signs intended to alert eligible health care providers for health care-related expenses and lost revenues attribut- motorists of known wildlife movement areas. Though incidents can happen anywhere, able to the coronavirus. Hospitals and other providers received funds and have budgeted accordingly,”Senator Gardner and his colleagues wrote. “However, we are still in the midst of a pandemic and providers continue to face uncertainty in terms of loss of revenue transportation authorities attempt to reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions by posting signage and lowering speeds in areas where wildlife are active. from delayed procedures and care as well as increased expenses related to COVID-19.” • Always wear a seat belt. Unfortunately, not every collision is avoidable, and the The full text of the letter is available here and below: National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration states that the risk of serious injury

Dear Secretary Azar: and death in a crash is reduced by half when seat belts are worn. We write today with concern regarding the Post-Payment Notice of Reporting Require- Drivers involved in a wildlife-vehicle collision should report the accident to the Coloments published on September 19, 2020. We have grave concerns this change in reporting rado State Patrol by calling *CSP (star key and 277). requirements for funds received from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) will create uncer- For more information about wildlife and Colorado highways, visit www.cpw.state.co.us tainty and financial hardship for hospitals in our states, particularly in rural areas. In the or www.codot.gov/programs/environmental/wildlife.

the coronavirus. Hospitals and other providers received funds and have budgeted accordingly. However, we are still in the midst of a pandemic and providers continue to face uncertainty in terms of loss of revenue from delayed procedures and care as well as increased expenses related to COVID 19. Keene Craft Mercantile A Special Place Where Talented People Based upon the impact of these changes to access to health care, we urge you to care fully consider any policies that disproportionately affect rural and safety net hospitals. - Bring Their Home-made Crafts to Sell ### W B e ooths are o are pen $25 and Tables are $20 Tuesday through Saturday

Cory Gardner is a member of the U.S. Senate serving Colorado. He sits on the Energy & from 10 am until 5 pm Natural Resources Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the 6565 MainMain Street,Street, Keenesburg,Keenesburg, ColoradoColorado 303-303-910-0640910-0640 pleted Colorado’s first-of-its-kind wildlife overpass and underpass system on Highway