We all know that winter is tough on animals, some winters are almost unbearable. Animals are at their weakest state in the beginning stages of spring. Most have used up all of their fat reserves just to make it through winter. This leaves them very weak going into spring. That being said these animals will look for food and the easiest places to access. This means that they will be spending a lot of their time near highways where the grass often pokes out of the snow first. Grazing is easy for them here. But that leaves them open to motor vehicles and the hazard of being hit and killed.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Steamboat Springs shared news of a tragic story just the other day. A fairly large group of pronghorns were feeding near the highway and had begun crossing the road when a motor vehicle going too fast wasn’t able to stop because of the snow and ice on the roads. 47 total pronghorn were struck and killed. A lot of those were also carrying babies as well. The meat was able to be donated to families in need. But what a tragic story that could have been avoided.
Be careful out there and try to give the animals a break as we are moving into spring.
