Cattle return to Beaver Creek Park Tuesday

Beaver Creek Park staff and Montana Department of Transportation are again urging drivers to use caution when driving on Montana Secondary Highway 234 - Beaver Creek Highway - and other roads in Beaver Creek Park starting next week as cattle will again be on the park starting Tuesday.

Every year, the Hill County Park Board leases grazing land to area ranchers from the day after Labor Day to the first of the next year, with the season sometimes shortened due to weather or grazing conditions.

Park management is urging people driving through the area to exercise caution and pay attention to the signs being put up.

A release from the park says that areas of the park may see high concentrations of cattle along the road and people in the area must use caution for their safety as well as the safety of the animals.

MDT will have an electronic reader board just south of town to indicate that the speed limit on the roads through the park have been reduced to 35 miles per hour at night.

MDT is advising people to be careful, as there will be black cows on the park, that can be difficult to see at first, and people need to drive carefully.

The daytime speed limit in the park is 55 mph to Taylor Road and 45 mph past Taylor Road.

Usually, signs are also put up on the park itself to make sure people are aware of the fact that there are cattle around, and remind them of the hazard to try to avoid vehicle-cow crashes when the livestock are on the road.

Officials have said that people will be able to stay safe if they are alert and following the speed limits at all times of day, but driving like it's a normal night doesn't allow people enough time to stop, even if they remain alert.

More details can be requested by calling the Beaver Creek Park Office at 406-395-4565.