Thirteen bison were killed in a vehicle crash last week on a Montana highway, according to the West Yellowstone Police Department. "On December 28th at approximately 6:30 pm, multiple bison were struck by a semi-truck near mile marker 4 on Highway 191," the department said in a statement on its Facebook page. Some bison were killed in the collision, and others needed to be euthanized due to their injuries. In total, 13 bison died.
Authorities initially believed that two passenger vehicles were involved in the primary crash, but police officers eventually determined that the semi-truck caused the initial crash and the two passenger vehicles' collision was a secondary incident.
Bison are a common sight on the Highway 191 corridor and frequent the areas near the roadways and snowmobile trails since it is easier for them to travel.
Officers said collisions with wildlife happen more often than they would like, especially since they are so close to Yellowstone National Park.
"Although speed may not necessarily have been a factor in this accident, road conditions at the time would dictate traveling below the posted speed limit," police said, urging drivers to slow down and drive appropriately to road and weather conditions.
"Please do not drive faster than you can stop within the distance that your headlights project. Stopping distances on snow-covered and icy roads are dramatically reduced versus dry pavement," authorities said.
Yellowstone is known for its large native bison population, living in the park area since prehistoric times. The current population is over 5,000, according to the National Park Service. The NPS focuses on the conservation of these large animals and is seeking to lower the number sent to slaughter. Currently, the service is working to send bison to Native American tribes as an alternative. According to the NPS, transferring them to tribes when they wander out of the park avoids unnecessary slaughter and helps tribes "restore their lost cultures and ways of life."
