Will the Canadian Pacific Railway Protect Banff National Park Wildlife?

Grizzly and black bears are emerging from their dens as snow recedes in Banff and Yoho national parks. Each year, hungry bears can be seen foraging along CPR tracks, drawn by grain spilled as it is shipped to western ports. But it can be a deadly dinner, as bears are unprepared for approaching locomotives, and engineers can do little to avoid colliding with wildlife on the tracks.

“Four of the thirteen grizzly bears that have died in Banff National Park since 2000 were killed by trains. None of the five cubs left orphaned by these railway deaths survived to adulthood,” reported Dr. Tracey Henderson, program director of the Grizzly Bear Alliance. “Factoring in the loss of these cubs, railway deaths are now the single biggest source of human related grizzly bear deaths in the park—accounting for over 60 percent of all the mortalities.”

Grain is transported in hopper cars, each with three large gates at the bottom for unloading. Some gates malfunction or are not closed tightly. As a result, grain dribbles along the track or spills when trains move slowly or are shaken on the rails. Grain spilled on car decks during loading also falls onto the tracks. Canadian Pacific Railway has used a vacuum truck to clean up larger spills, but enough grain remains on the tracks to attract bears and other wildlife.

“In spite of our ongoing dialog, CPR staff and management have repeatedly stated or implied they are not willing to take any additional steps to deal with this problem. The Canadian Pacific Railway has refused to disclose repair records for leaking cars, and its trains continue to scatter grain between the rails in Banff National Park,” said Jim Pissot, executive director of Defenders of Wildlife Canada. “CPR must ensure that the grain cars it transports no longer spill grain that attracts wildlife to their deaths.”

The conservation organizations called on CPR to acknowledge to stockholders bears killed by its trains, to ensure hopper cars do not leak grain, and to convene expert workshops to address wildlife struck by trains.

“CPR is enjoying record profits,” said Pissot. “It is time to invest in rail safety in Canada ’s premier national park.

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Defenders of Wildlife is recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 490,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues.

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