Banff nearing ecological disaster

June 11, 1999
Source: CBC
Original story - link verified on August 22, 2000

Some biologists say Banff National Park is in crisis. They say some species in the park have died off, and others are dwindling. One scientist is threatening to sue Parks Canada for not living up to its mandate to protect the ecological integrity of national parks. The allegations come as an independent committee arrives in Alberta to hear advice on just how to do that. A major problem is that the TransCanada Highway cuts through Banff National Park and 10 million people a year either drive through it, or stop and visit. It's a park some biologists say is in ecological danger. Dr. Paul Paquet is a biologist with the Central Rockies Wolf Project. He and his colleague, biologist Carolyn Callaghan, have studied wolves in this area for years. They say the declining wolf population proves their point. "We've documented 32 wolf deaths since 1987 in the Bow Valley of Banff National Park," Callaghan said, "and 81 per cent of those wolves have died either on the highway or on the railway line. So humans have been the cause of most wolf deaths in the Bow Valley." The last breeding female of the three-member pack was struck by a train last month. She died, along with the pups she was carrying. Last month two black bears were killed on the highway. Parks Canada recently built two overpasses so that wildlife could cross the TransCanada safely. There's also a network of underpasses. But Callaghan says they aren't working well for wolves. "They're not using the underpasses or the overpasses near the level that we would expect them to." Callaghan suggests elevating or burying sections of the TransCanada and the CP rail line, and fencing all the other sections. At the very least, she says Parks Canada should reduce the speed limit along the highway and rail line. Parks officials defend the underpasses and overpasses. Dr. Bruce Leeson is a senior environmental assessment scientist with Parks Canada. "Well, I would say they're very successful. Here you have in this two-year period for the underpasses almost 5,000 passages by wildlife successfully traversing the highway, not being exposed to traffic." Leeson says every species, except grizzly bears, has used the overpasses. But he says it will take another three years to find out whether they're working well. And he rejects calls to elevate or bury parts of the TransCanada, to help save the wolf population in the Bow Valley. Leeson rejects the option as too expensive. He also believes the 90 kph speed limit through the park is slow enough.

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