CP train hits black bear cub in Banff park

A black bear cub was struck and killed by a train in Banff National Park after it followed its mother across the tracks.

The night of Aug. 12, the male cub was hit by the Canadian Pacific train.

Parks Canada spokeswoman Christina Tricomi sent out an emailed statement about the incident.

“The mother bear ran across the tracks ahead of the train, but her cub didn’t make it across in time,” said the statement.

It noted that conservation staff chased the mother away from the scene and moved the carcass to prevent her or other wildlife from being attracted to the railway lines.

Canadian Pacific spokesman Marty Cej said he believes it’s the first time a train has struck a bear this summer.

He couldn’t provide any further information.

Canadian Pacific is working with Parks Canada on a multi- year project to reduce the number of bear deaths along the railway lines — one of the leading causes of deaths in the national parks.

Similarly, roads can be deadly for wildlife.

At least three other black bears have been hit and killed on the highways in the mountain national parks, including one on Highway 93S in Kootenay National Park on May 13, another on the Trans- Canada Highway in Yoho National Park on June 25 and a third on Highway 93N in Banff National Park on June 30.

It’s not believed any grizzly bears have been hit or killed on the transportation corridor in the national parks so far this year, but one of Banff National Park’s research bears was euthanized by the province after it left the park and started killing livestock in the Sundre area.