The Associated Press

THAYER, Mo. — Missouri officials say a 600-pound black bear has been struck and killed by a semitrailer near the Arkansas border.

Paul Veatch with the Missouri Department of Conservation tells KAIT-TV the animal is being studied at a facility in Jefferson City. The semitrailer driver tells authorities he initially thought a cow had run into the side of his vehicle on Monday morning near Thayer.

Veatch says a Missouri trooper had to use a log chain to move the bear. Authorities used a front end loader to lift the animal from the ground into Veatch's truck.

He says the bear was likely bulking up for winter.

The department estimates about 400 bears live in southern Missouri.

Thayer is located just 59 miles from Mountain Home taking U.S. Highway 62 East.