(The following story by Doug McIntyre appeared on the Calgary Sun website on May 3.)
CALGARY — Wildlife advocates are applauding Canadian Pacific Railway’s decision to repair hopper cars suspected of leaking grain, a move they say will reduce the number of foraging animals killed on the train tracks in Banff National Park.
CP Rail announced yesterday its plans to overhaul about 6,300 government-owned grain hoppers during the next five years at a cost of $20 million.
Jim Pissot, executive director of Defenders of Wildlife Canada, said large amounts of spilled grain have been observed between the rails in Banff National Park during the past several years, attracting foraging bears, wolves, coyotes, elk and deer that often end up struck down and killed.