Watch for Wildlife Between Bend and Suttle Lake
By Jeremy Austin, Wild Lands & Water Program Director
The virtues of autumn in Central Oregon don’t need to be detailed again. We all know them by heart: the crispness in the air, the auburn hue on leaves, and the greater solitude.
In this splendid season, Suttle Lake issues a siren song — calling out for one more hike or paddle before winter sets in. As you pass through Tumalo and Sisters, through stands of Ponderosa pines, past Black Butte and the turn-off to the Metolius River Basin, the drive is part of the adventure.
But autumn is also the season when many wildlife are on the move — and when drivers need to be especially alert. As the days shorten and the snow line creeps down the Cascades, mule deer and elk begin their annual migrations from summer ranges in the high country to lower-elevation wintering grounds. These ancient routes cross straight through what have become busy travel routes for people, and, unfortunately, that has made collisions between vehicles and wildlife an inevitability.
Oregon’s Most Dangerous Corridor for Wildlife
Between Bend and Suttle Lake on U.S. 20, an estimated 350 to 600 deer and elk are killed by vehicles each year — one of the highest rates of wildlife collisions anywhere in Oregon. Each collision is a loss for the herd and a high cost to the driver, with accidents leading to expensive medical bills and property damage.
In the Bend-to-Suttle Lake corridor, we all need to slow down, especially at dawn and dusk when animals are most active.
Why Elk and Deer Migrate
These animals aren’t just wandering — they’re following patterns that have guided their hooves for millenia. Mule deer and elk move to find food, water, shelter, and mates. In summer, they head to the high meadows near Mount Washington and the Three Sisters, lush with grasses and wildflowers — a salad bar for hungry mammals. In winter, they seek out the lower elevation landscapes which offer protection from snow and easier access to bitterbrush and other forage.
Migration is an age-old survival strategy, but it's one that hasn’t meshed well with our current highway system. Too many animals never make it to their destination.
Safer Passage Ahead
Here’s the good news: there is a solution in the works.
In what used to be a white-knuckle stretch of road, drivers along Highway 97 south of Bend no longer need to be as stressed out about a deer or elk bounding across the lane here, thanks to a series of wildlife undercrossings that have reduced animal-vehicle collisions by up to 90 percent within fenced areas.
That same increase in safety is on the horizon for Highway 20. The Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Passage Initiative has raised over $1 million to begin planning and design for a series of four wildlife overcrossings in the 35-mile corridor between Bend and Suttle Lake.
These overcrossing will reconnect habitat on both sides of the highway, save lives, and make fall drives (and those in every season) safer for all.
Visiting Suttle Lake In The Fall
In September, you might try:
Biking the Suttle Tie to Suttle Lake. This beginner-friendly mountain bike ride will carry you to the lake and around it. Note that this trail travels through important movement corridors for wildlife. When recreating, be aware of the impact you may have and follow responsible recreation tips.
Looking for birds on the lake and in the forest. In the water, look for loons, grebes, goldeneyes, and mergansers. In the forest, watch for woodpeckers, nuthatches, and ravens and listen for the songs of chickadees, warblers, and varied thrush.
Paddling Suttle Lake. From the water, you can observe the shifting colors of vine maple and larch. If you’re lucky, you might spot a Kokanee or brown trout surfacing, an otter or beaver swimming, or a deer browsing at the water’s edge.
Suttle Lake is one of many places that remind us that Central Oregon is exceptional — and that the wildlife that inhabit this region deserve safe passage as much as we do.
Be Wildlife-Aware This Season
As we await the crossings, here are three key ways to protect wildlife and yourself:
Slow down in the Bend–Sisters–Suttle Lake corridor, especially at dawn and dusk and during spring and fall migration.
Stay alert for movement at the edges of the road.
Give animals space if you see them near the shoulder — they may not cross alone.
Every careful driver this fall helps make sure more deer, elk and other wildlife complete the movements essential to their survival. Another tip for when you’re at home: don’t feed deer.
So take the scenic drive, inhale the mountain air, and enjoy Central Oregon’s abundant natural beauty. Just remember: the road you’re on bisects ancient migration routes. Your caution and your support for wildlife crossings is needed.
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