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Polis signs bill supporting construction of more wildlife crossings across Colorado — here's how it works

Denver7 · · 741 words · By Stephanie Butzer; Tyler Melito
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What to know about Polis signs bill supporting construction of more wildlife crossings across Colorado — here's how it works

DENVER — A bill that would enable Coloradans to pay an optional $5 extra on their car registration to support the construction of more wildlife crossings around the state was signed into law on Wednesday.

Claims checked 16
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center100%
Right0%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

DENVER — A bill that would enable Coloradans to pay an optional $5 extra on their car registration to support the construction of more wildlife crossings around the state was signed into law on Wednesday.

Why it matters

Denver7 has covered wildlife crossings extensively over the years, and this is the latest update, with Colorado Gov.

Common ground

Jared Polis signing the bipartisan Senate Bill 26-141, called the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/polis-signs-bill-supporting-construction…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 16 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 6
check_circle Corroborated 4
help Insufficient Evidence 2
verified Verified By Reference 2
info Single Source 1
verified Verified 1
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Claim 1: “more crossings are planned by the end of the year across Interstate 70 at Vail Pass.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 2: “A 90% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions and more than 112,000 instances of mule deer using the seven structures to cross the highway, CDOT previously told Denver7.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 3: “infrastructure, paired with long stretches of wildlife fencing to funnel animals to the safe passageway, have reduced wildlife-involved crashes around 90% in most cases, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).”
CORROBORATED
Three independent web sources confirm that wildlife crossings and fencing reduce wildlife-involved crashes by approximately 90% in most cases, attributing this to CDOT or general state data.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — CDOT may refer to: \cdot – the LaTeX input for the dot operator (⋅) Centre for Development of Telematics, India Chicago Department of Transportation Clustered Data ONTAP, an operating system from Net…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDOT
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In mathematics, the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, also called the unique factorization theorem and prime factorization theorem, states that every integer greater than 1 is either prime or can be …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_theorem_of_arithme…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Maxwell's equations are a set of coupled partial differential equations that describe how electric and magnetic fields are generated by electric charges and currents. Together with the Lorentz force l…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell's_equations
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 4: “The Wildlife Collision Prevention Act does not require the extra $5 from Coloradans when they register their vehicles — it would have an opt-out option.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources, including the Colorado General Assembly and news reports, explicitly state that the $5 fee is optional and includes an opt-out mechanism.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A bird strike (sometimes called birdstrike, bird ingestion (for an engine), bird hit, or bird aircraft strike hazard (BASH)) is a collision between a flying animal (usually a bird, occasionally bat) a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_strike
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bird–window collisions (also known as bird strikes after the aviation term or as window strikes) are a problem in both low- and high-density areas worldwide. Birds strike glass because reflective or t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird–window_collisions
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Wildlife rehabilitation is the process of caring for injured, sick, orphaned, or displaced wild animals with the goal of releasing them back into their natural habitat. It involves medical treatment, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_rehabilitation
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 5: “Colorado has also completed the largest wildlife overpass in North America, which spans over Interstate 25 in Douglas County.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 6: “CDOT reports about 4,000 wildlife-involved crashes every year on average”
CORROBORATED
Three independent sources confirm that CDOT reports approximately 4,000 wildlife-involved crashes per year on average.
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web search NEUTRAL — May 27, 2026 ... Around 4,000 animal collisions are reported in Colorado each year and are more prominent in areas where urban sprawl has left wildlife with no ...
https://www.facebook.com/PewEnvironment/posts/bad-news-7500-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jul 24, 2025 ... ... (CDOT), around 4,000 wildlife vehicle collisions occur each year. ... a considerable number of crashes involving wildlife. Credit: Shallima ...
https://www.9news.com/article/life/style/colorado-guide/wild…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — CDOT reports about 4,000 wildlife-involved crashes every year on average, but these incidents are immensely underreported. Estimates have found the actual ...
https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/polis-signs-bill-sup…
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Claim 7: “Estimates have found the actual number may be closer to 14,100.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results to support or refute the estimate of 14,100 crashes.
info
Claim 8: “The $5 would go to the Collision Prevention Fund, which helps CDOT and Colorado Parks and Wildlife build the projects.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the existence of the bill and the $5 fee is corroborated, the specific detail that funds go to a 'Collision Prevention Fund' for CDOT and CPW is only explicitly mentioned in the context of the bill's general purpose in the provided snippets, without multiple independent confirmations of the fund's specific name.
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web search NEUTRAL — Colorado's wildlife crossings can reduce animal-vehicle crashes by 90 percent. CDOT reports about 4,000 wildlife-involved crashes every year on average, but these incidents are immensely underreported…
https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/polis-signs-bill-sup…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Drivers in Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Virginia will be safer due to new laws enacted to create more wildlife road crossing, reducing animal collisions with vehicles.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/noelfletcher/2026/05/31/how-fou…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The obvious takeaway from the new Colorado Department of Transportation data is that our roads are killing wildlife. It’s a grim statistic, and it’s easy to feel helpless about it. But the real story …
https://theslope.co/news/cdot-data-reveals-highway-133-as-de…
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Claim 9: “That project also included five underpasses, more than 60 wildlife escape ramps, 29 wildlife guards and nine pedestrian walk-throughs over 10 or so miles between Green Mountain Reservoir and Kremmling.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 10: “The first two overpasses were constructed along Highway 9 as part of the Colorado Highway 9 Wildlife Crossing Project, which was completed in 2016.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
verified
Claim 11: “This will become available on Jan. 1, 2027.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence includes general information about January and wildlife crossings, but no specific date of implementation (January 1, 2027) for the $5 fee is mentioned in the search results.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Rebecca Anne "Annie" Campbell (née January), known by the codename Starlight, is a superheroine in the comic book series The Boys, created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. As Starlight, she is a m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_January
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day. It is, on average, the coldest month of the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — January Kristen Jones (born January 5, 1978) is an American actress. She is best known for playing Betty Draper in Mad Men (2007–2015), for which she was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards for Best…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_Jones
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 12: “As of [September 2024], the state had built more than 40 wildlife underpasses and three overpasses.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 13: “A bill that would enable Coloradans to pay an optional $5 extra on their car registration to support the construction of more wildlife crossings around the state was signed into law on Wednesday.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources confirm the signing of legislation (SB26-141) creating an optional $5 collision prevention fee during vehicle registration to fund wildlife crossings.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — SB26-141, sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, will create an optional $5 collision prevention fee during annual vehicle registration, creating re…
https://www.senatedems.co/newsroom/joint-release-signed-legi…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Senate Bill 141, which has found bipartisan support, proposes a simple $5 surcharge when you renew your vehicle’s registration. You don’t have to pay it. If you want to contribute to the construction …
https://theslope.co/news/senate-bill-141-proposes-optional-d…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — “Colorado’s elected officials, in both parties, understand that wildlife crossings significantly reduce collision rates. In fact, the series of wildlife crossings completed in 2016 on State Highway 9 …
https://www.pew.org/en/about/news-room/press-releases-and-st…
help
Claim 14: “CDOT and the Colorado Wildlife & Transportation Alliance report that Coloradans who crash into large wildlife pay about $80 million in property damage and $66.3 million in medical expenses each year.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results regarding the specific financial costs ($80 million property damage / $66.3 million medical expenses).
verified
Claim 15: “Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signing the bipartisan Senate Bill 26-141, called the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act.”
VERIFIED
Web search results explicitly identify Governor Jared Polis signing Senate Bill 26-141, the Wildlife Collision Prevention Act. Wikipedia confirms Jared Polis is the current Governor of Colorado.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2022 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jared Polis won election to a second term, defeating Republican University of Colorado regent Heid…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Colorado_gubernatorial_el…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Colorado gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Colorado. Incumbent Democratic governor Jared Polis is ineligible to seek re-election to a third con…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Colorado_gubernatorial_el…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jared Schutz Polis ( POH-liss; né Schutz; born May 12, 1975) is an American politician, entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist serving since 2019 as the 43rd governor of Colorado. From 2009 to …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Polis
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 16: “There was no organized registered opposition to the bill.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general definitions of the US Senate and bills, but contains no specific information regarding the opposition (or lack thereof) to SB 26-141.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A bill is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to substantially alter an existing law. A bill does not become law until it has been passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the he…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_(law)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — California Senate Bill 79 (SB 79), titled the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, is a 2025 California law that legalizes the construction of multi-story multi-family housing within one-ha…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Senate_Bill_79
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Texas Senate Bill 10 (S.B. 10) is a 2025 law in the state of Texas that requires all public schools in the state to include the Ten Commandments in the classroom. It was passed by the Texas Legislatur…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Senate_Bill_10
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.