A deer has been put down after suffering “unsurvivable injuries”, police say.
The M5 was closed in both directions between junction 18 for Avonmouth and junction 17 for Cribbs Causeway after an animal ran onto the road earlier.
Avon and Somerset Police attended and said traffic needed to be halted “on grounds of safety to both motorists and the animal”. The force said armed officers put the injured animal down to stop it suffering further.
The motorway was reopened and traffic in the area has cleared.