Trouble on the Tracks: Grizzly Mortality in the Bow Valley
In a heartbreaking series of events, two female grizzly bears were killed by trains in Banff National Park at the end of May 2025. These weren't just any bears – one was potentially breeding age, and the other was part of a young sibling pair, adding up to what Parks Canada wildlife ecologist Saundi Stevens called “a pretty significant blow” to the park's grizzly population.
The first incident occurred on May 27 near Protection Mountain. It involved an eight-year-old female grizzly who was accompanied by the region's most famous male bear, Bear 122, better known as “The Boss.” The two were likely mating. When a train approached, The Boss fled – but the female turned back toward the tracks and was killed.
The second incident, just three days later near Bath Creek, involved a sub-adult female grizzly believed to be part of a sibling pair. One bear was killed; the other fled. The deceased bear was estimated to be between three and four years old – too young to breed, but still a significant loss.
Grizzly bears are a threatened species in Alberta. With slow reproductive rates (first litters around age five to seven, and new litters only every two to three years), every female is critical to the population's stability.
Mama Bear on the Move (and the Internet)
On the lighter side, a recent wildlife sighting along Moraine Lake Road stole hearts and views online: a mama grizzly and her two cubs trotting down the road like a bear family on a morning stroll.
Captured safely from inside a Via Via Moraine Lake Shuttle, the video came with a critical reminder: do not stop for wildlife unless necessary. Stay in your vehicle, slow down to a walking pace, and continue moving.
The footage shows not only how cute wildlife can be, but also how tempting it is for people to ignore safety rules. Don't. Not for a photo. Not even for three adorable bear butts disappearing into the trees.
Black Bear Goes to Bear Boot Camp
Let's move on to the Mount Coleman day-use area along Highway 93 North, a scenic spot in northern Banff National Park. On June 8th, it became the scene of what Parks Canada diplomatically described as “bold bear behaviour.”
Translation: A young black bear wandered into the area and decided your standard picnic fare – sausages, cheese, chips, wraps – sounded better than dandelions. The bear not only helped itself to the leftovers but also bluff-charged a visitor near the outhouse and strolled toward a group of picnickers, seemingly unfazed by honking and yelling.
The aftermath? The area was immediately closed and remains off-limits until further notice.
This bold bruin isn't being written off yet. Instead, Parks Canada is taking a “tough love” approach with aversive conditioning. The plan is to trap the bear, fit it with a radio collar, and then spend days following it from sunrise to sunset, using deterrents such as shouting, noise-makers, chalk rounds, and rubber projectiles to teach it that human-use areas are undesirable.
Why the investment in what's essentially bear re-education? Because the bear is young, and younger animals tend to respond better to conditioning. Parks Canada believes this is the first recorded incident involving this bear, so there is still hope for reversing its taste for dangerous snacks.
Population Trends: Backcountry Bears vs. Bow Valley Risks
Despite the tragic deaths, a long-term study conducted between 2013 and 2023 indicates that Banff's overall grizzly population has remained stable, with a slight increase, now estimated at around 70 bears. However, that good news comes with a caveat: the density of bears near roads and visitor-heavy areas has declined. This suggests that high-use human zones, such as the Bow Valley, are losing bears, even as the backcountry population offers some balance.
So, yes, the bears are still out there, but they're learning to stay further away from us. Not necessarily a bad idea, considering.
Fences, Overpasses, and the Politics of Wildlife Safety
The Bow Valley region saw a significant milestone this month with the official renaming of the wildlife overpass near Lac Des Arcs. Now called the Peter Lougheed Wildlife Overpass, it honours the former Alberta premier who helped create Kananaskis Country.
More than just a fancy name, this overpass is part of a $17.5 million investment in wildlife connectivity. With an estimated 60 wildlife-vehicle collisions annually along that stretch of highway, the overpass, alongside 12.5 kilometres of wildlife fencing, is expected to reduce such incidents by about 80%.
Wildlife crossing structures in Banff National Park are already among the most effective in the world, with over 80% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions, and over 96% for elk and deer. Grizzlies and wolves may take years to adapt to new crossings, but early data suggest they're learning to use them, with some assistance from motion-triggered cameras and careful design.
