Video shows train hitting dozens of pronghorn antelope

Canadian Pacific Railway says an investigation is underway following the release of a video showing one of the company's trains running over dozens of pronghorn antelope in southwestern Saskatchewan.

The video, which was obtained by Global News, shows a large herd of animals running on the tracks as the freight train's horn blasts.

Wildlife biologist Terry Kowalchuk, who's also a dean at Lethbridge College, said it was unsettling to see the animals — an iconic shortgrass Prairie species — being overtaken by the train.

“Their natural instinct is to outrun any sort of predator, any sort of disturbance,” Kowalchuk said in an interview Wednesday. “It doesn't bode well for them when they get into areas where they can't outrun something like a vehicle or a train.”

Canadian Pacific said in a statement the freight train hit the herd on Nov. 15 west of Maple Creek.

“When an incident like this occurs, crews are required to report it to the CP Operations Centre,” said the statement. “CP then alerts relevant stakeholders, including provincial authorities, about the wildlife strike.”

Crews are not always able to safely stop a train to prevent a collision, because it takes a train time to come to a complete stop, CP added.

Saskatchewan Environment said in a statement that train collisions with wildlife are not uncommon.

“However, we do acknowledge ... the number of pronghorn impacted was significant and distressing.”

The statement said officials are in touch with CP and will be involved in any followup investigations.