Banff Grizzlies continue to be killed by automobiles despite wildlife fencing that is in place along a good stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway that traverses the Park.............As we know, road density is one of the key variables in determining the long-term persistence potential of any carnivore population...............There are only 4 known female bears currently occupying the Park boundaries........Biologists feel that there are other females adjacent to the Park that could aid in expanding the population that currently numbers 60 Griz............Crews are at work trying to complete the Wildlife fence by this Fall.............critical this work is to the health of the Bears of this Canadian region

Female grizzly killed on Banff highway 6

SEAN MCCANN, QMI 

This grizzly was killed by a vehicle on the Trans Canada.

CALGARY - Slipping past a wildlife fence under construction in Banff National Park has cost a five-year-old female grizzly bear her life.Parks Canada said the bear, known to wildlife staff as Bear 108, was hit by a vehicle on the Trans-Canada Hwy. on Monday night.The carcass was found on Wednesday afternoon.

Steve Michel, human wildlife conflict specialist at Banff National Park, said crews were on the scene trying to guide the grizzly off the busy highway when she was stuck."She had made her way through the fence somehow," he said."Officers were on the scene attempting to guide her on to the other side of the fence when she was hit." Michel said the bear was hit by a car travelling at a reduced speed, and the people in the car were "quite upset" after the collision.

The latest bear death in Banff National Park leaves the population of breeding-age females at four in the Bow Valley section of the park, but Michel said there are more in the backcounrty."The Bow Valley population is being significantly impacted by the deaths," he said.In May, a female grizzly was hit by a train when it wandered onto the CP Rail tracks, leaving two orphaned cubs.

Parks Canada spokesman Mark Merchant said in a release the organization is working on ways to limit wildlife deaths along the Trans Canada Hwy."The wildlife fence is one of many elements Parks Canada uses to help keep animals safe along this busy Banff-Bow Valley transportation corridor," he said.He added that the fence is scheduled to be complete this fall, and crews are working to complete the fence as soon as possible.

This is the 12th bear to be killed in Banff National Park in the last 10 years. Michel estimates 60 grizzlies are left in Banff National Park.

RECENT BEAR DEATHS IN THE AREA

May 28, 2011: A train hit a 175-lb. female grizzly bear, that had two cubs, on the CP Rail tracks in Banff National Park.

June 25, 2010: A 130-kg untagged male grizzly died after being hit by a train on the CP Rail tracks 7 km east of the Banff townsite.

May 27, 2010: Near Fireside, west of Banff, a 4 1/2-year-old female grizzly was killed on the CP Rail tracks