Cattle go back on park after Labor Day

Drivers traveling through Beaver Creek Park will have to be a little more careful starting Tuesday, when cattle will be released to graze on the park.  

Matt Ladenburg of the Montana Department of Transportation said Thursday that a reader board warning of the presence of cattle will be stationed at the south end of 5th Avenue.

Beaver Creek Park allows ranchers to graze cattle on the park for a fee between the day after Labor Day and Jan. 1.

The reader board will be present until cattle are taken off the park, Ladenburg said.

Park personnel typically also put up signs on the park reminding drivers that cattle are present and to be careful, along with the speed limit signs put up by MDT.

Ladenburg said the speed limit going through the park is 55 mph out to Taylor Road and 45 mph past Taylor Road.

While the cattle are on the park, a night-time limit of 35 mph is imposed.

In 2015, there were three crashes involving domesticated animals in Beaver Creek Park, according to the Montana Highway Patrol. Highway Patrol does not break down by type which animals are involved in vehicle accidents.