Another wolf has been killed by a train in Banff National Park.
The death of a female wolf pup called Meadow on the train tracks near Muleshoe on Monday night (March 7) was the second railway mortality this year. Another wolf was killed in January near first Vermilion Lakes.
Parks Canada officials say the young wolf was a member of the Bow Valley pack. Its death leaves just five members remaining in the pack.
“It’s always disappointing when this happens and that’s why it’s so important to keep working on measures to reduce this,” said Tom Hurd, wildlife biologist for Banff National Park.
“Wolf mortality continues to be high, but sustainable. On average, we lose about one in every four, one in every five wolves.”
This is the 13th wolf killed on the Canadian Pacific Railway in Banff National Park since wolves recolonized the Bow Valley in 1985.
In this most recent case, the two other pups in the pack were found Tuesday morning (March 8) hanging around the site where their sister was killed.
Hurd said wildlife officials do not know why the pup was on the tracks, although there was no sign of a carcass that may have drawn the young wolf.
“The pup could have been a little naďve about what to do with an approaching train,” he said.
“It was in the evening hours, so she could have been confused.”
