At the Oregon Department of Transportation, our core mission is to provide a safe and efficient transportation system that supports economic opportunity and livable communities statewide. Oregon’s state highways overlap, intersect, and travel along wildlife habitats and migration routes. Not surprisingly, vehicle and wildlife collisions occur regularly. In support of our agency mission, our Wildlife Crossings Program aims to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on state highways to support user safety and system operations.
Key Facts
- Wildlife-vehicle collisions present a safety hazard that can result in costly vehicle damage, along with human injuries and deaths.
- There is a secondary safety risk to ODOT maintenance workers when removing an animal from the highway, as well as a cost to haul and dispose of the carcass.
- In Oregon, wildlife-vehicle collisions mostly involve deer. In 2025, ODOT personnel recorded over 5,000 animal strikes and roughly 85% were deer.
- Wildlife crossings are paths that help animals cross roads and move between habitats.
About the Program
Key Objectives
- Improve safety for system users.
- Limit the impact of animal collisions on highway operations.
- Comply with state and federal regulations.
- Maximize ODOT investments.
- Deploy proven countermeasures.
- Make data-informed decisions.
- Investigate opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships and collaborations.
Priority Animals and Locations
When identifying investment locations, ODOT’s Wildlife Crossings Program prioritizes
high-density collision sites on state highways adjacent to public lands. Sites are ideally a minimum of three miles long or they extend existing infrastructure.
We
focus on elk and mule deer crossing sites, as these represent the greatest impact to transportation.
U.S. 97 is one of our priority routes as it bisects the migration routes of these animals.
Approach: Countermeasures
Oregon’s expansive forests and varied terrains mean wildlife-vehicle collisions can occur almost anywhere. ODOT works to limit the likelihood of collisions with countermeasures. Wildlife crossing infrastructure is intended to reduce collisions while supporting habitat connectivity.
Wildlife Crossings – These structures allow animals to traverse highways by way of a corridor over or underneath the road. These crossings are generally large enough to accommodate deer and elk.
Wildlife Fences – Often used in combination with under- and over-crossings, fencing can be used to funnel wildlife toward locations that offer reduced risk of vehicle collisions.
Signs – Installing wildlife crossing signs increase driver awareness of potential hazards.
Projects
Resources for Project Consultants
Information and guidance about working with ODOT on Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Projects or Enhancements on ODOT-owned Roadsides and Lands