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Thirteen bison were killed after a semi-truck struck the animals outside of Yellowstone National Park Wednesday, authorities said.
The accident occurred on Highway 191 near mile marker 4 in southern Montana, the West Yellowstone Police Department said in a statement Friday. The area is near the western entrance of the national park. Authorities said the semi-truck hit all of the bison, and some were later euthanized “due to severe injuries.”
Officials said bison can be frequently seen near roadways and trails in the winter months because it’s easier for them to travel on, putting them in the possible path of vehicles.
“We deal with wildlife being struck and killed on the roadways in our area on a regular basis due to the abundance of wildlife in our area and our close proximity to Yellowstone National Park,” the department said. “We are always saddened by any of these incidents, particularly when so many animals are lost.”
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Police used the accident to remind people to slow down during certain road and weather conditions, noting that it is harder to stop on icy roads. Conditions of the road at the time of the accident “would dictate traveling below the posted speed limit.” Temperatures around the time of the accident in West Yellowstone were below freezing, according Weather Underground.
Officials initially thought multiple vehicles were involved in the bison deaths, but determined the other two vehicles were isolated incidents.
The largest land-dwelling mammals in North America, bison have been calling Yellowstone home since prehistoric times, according to the national park. The species was near the brink of extinction due to hunting in the 1800s before it received protection from the U.S. Army. There are around 5,450 bison in the area as of summer 2021, according to officials. The animals can be often seen in herds.
Police said the Montana Highway Patrol will investigate the crash. USA TODAY has reached out to Montana Highway Patrol and the National Park Service for comment.
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.
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