Another bear hit on the train tracks has become old hat for some. We shrug our shoulders, dismiss the kill as a fact of life and continue to sip our coffee.  

Why is that?

This same method of thinking - a willingness to accept common practice without consideration for future consequences - has led us into trouble with other species. How often have biologists told us it’s ‘too late’ to restore a population after years of increasing pressure? We need only look to Banff’s caribou herd to see the effects of increased human pressure on wildlife.

Perhaps bears become too common place. Living amongst them, perhaps there is a tendency to become jaded to their plight, searching for food - unaware of the perils of human attractants. 

If we still see them, they must be doing well. Right?

There are likely between 80 and 90 black bears in Jasper National Park - a park that’s become synonymous with the iconic beasts. Numbers are healthy right now, however if accidents such as train track fatalities continue, that’s likely to change. 

Jasper National Park human/wildlife conflict specialist Wes Bradford said about eight bears a year die on the train tracks, while CN Rail said that number is only one or two in the National Park. Let’s hope CN is correct.

Allowing eight bears to die on the tracks, accompanied with highway deaths, natural fatalities, hunting and poaching, puts an increased strain on the population. We can’t save all of the bears - nor should we try - however when our actions, our mere presence affects population levels, shouldn’t we hold some responsibility?

Jasper is also attempting to increase its market share and attract more visitors to the town, while CN is planning to increase traffic on its western lands. Our presence is increasing. How this affects wildlife must be kept in check.

The golden goose is restless.

CN should be commended for finally pouring money into its hopper car problem and completing the plan ahead of schedule, but the fact it took years of lobbying and the lives of several grizzly and black bears to do so is frankly embarrassing. To operate in a national park requires a different level of caution, in terms of stewardship and national pride. The same sense of stewardship applies to everyone in the mountain parks, who need to take responsibility for their actions.

No one wants more dead bears in the area.

Given every tourist shop in town has at least one item with a picture of a black bear on it, it would be remiss to ignore the economic engine. More than ninety per cent of visitors come to the park in hopes of seeing wildlife. Actions must be taken now to ensure that goal remains sustainable.

The alternative is unbearable.