EBS STAFF
At approximately 8 a.m. on Friday morning, Feb. 28, the Gallatin Gateway Fire Department responded to a report of an elk carcass on fire along U.S. Highway 191 just south of Gallatin Gateway. While Gallatin Gateway Fire District Chief Jeremiah Hillier wouldn’t comment on how the already-deceased elk was set on fire, he noted that citizens “aren’t happy” with the amount of roadkill along the corridor.
“I’ve been doing this for 23 years and this is the first time ever,” Hillier said of the specific instance of an elk set on fire. “But with the winter we’ve had and all the animals that get hit on that roadway, the citizens aren’t happy.”
While law enforcement was first to respond, quickly extinguishing flames with a fire extinguisher, the fire department arrived soon after and doused the area with water to prevent further spread and ensure the fire was contained.
Stay tuned—Explore Big Sky is working on a story that further discusses the increase in wildlife collisions along the U.S. 191 corridor that will be published next week.
