Banff considers clearing forest near train tracks to reduce elk-train collisions

A male Elk wanders through the grass along the Vermillion Lakes near Banff, Alberta Wednesday November 1, 2000. (CP PHOTO/Adrian Wyld)

The Town of Banff is considering thinning out a forest near a railway track to prevent the number of elk being killed on the stretch of line.

Parks Canada notified the town about the issue occurring along a heavily wooded area inside the industrial area of the town boundary, adjacent to a stretch of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) tracks.

The town says fewer trees will lead to clearer sight lines for elk and their herds as trains approach.

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According to town administration, it would also improve navigation by wildlife through the chokepoint between the industrial compound and the railway tracks.

According to Parks Canada, 42 elk were killed along the roughly 2.25-kilometre stretch of tracks between 2004 and 2025.

“Reducing wildlife mortality on transportation corridors is a top priority and Parks Canada will continue working collaboratively with partners to implement effective, science-based solutions,” Parks Canada said in a statement.

“Vegetation thinning may be a useful measure; however, it is not a standalone solution. Instead, Parks Canada uses a variety of tools to reduce wildlife mortalities such as fencing, vegetation thinning, and hazing.”

The project would cost $20,000 in 2027 and every five years for maintenance.

The work would take place adjacent to commercial properties along Eagle Crescent which would also support the town’s efforts to reduce fuel for wildfires.

CPKC should pay, resident says

Peter Duck, president of Bow Valley Naturalists, appreciates efforts to reduce elk fatalities but questions why the town would cover the costs and not the railway.

“Our first concern is the source of the problem and that’s that trains are killing wildlife in Banff National Park,” he said.

“I don’t see the railway being part of that conversation for this proposal. So, as a resident of Banff, I’m concerned that Town of Banff’s money is being used to solve the problem that belongs to CPKC.”

According to administration, the town has not yet approached CPKC, but “may do so to see if thinning could also be completed in adjacent areas inside their right of way.”

“Before municipal money is committed to working on the project, I think they need to be part of that conversation, and we need to see what they’re going to do to help out as a partner in protecting this ecosystem,” said Duck.

CPKC, in a statement to CTV News, said it could not comment directly about the town’s program, but says it works extensively with partners in regard to wildlife.

“CPKC recognizes the complexity of minimizing wildlife strikes along railway corridors. As wildlife experts have stated, this is a complex issue with no simple solutions,” the statement read.

Impact on other wildlife

Duck also is interested to learn how the forest thinning could impact other animals.

“Different wildlife have different needs. So, I hope those who are planning this project and planning solutions to this wildlife corridor are looking at all species of wildlife and trying to figure out how to how to suit them.”

The town knows of at least one coyote den within the area that would need to be avoided to not result in negative impacts to wildlife.

Town council is considering whether the proposal will go ahead at Thursday’s service review meeting.