HELENA, Mont. — BNSF Railway has completed a plan to address grizzly bear deaths along its rail line near Glacier National Park in Montana that includes $2.9 million in mitigation efforts. Approval of the long-awaited document by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has led to the railroad receiving an “incidental take” permit that addresses such deaths.
The 73-page habitat conservation plan was developed with Amtrak; a lengthy list of state and federal agencies, including Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and U.S. Fish and Wildlife; Glacier National Park; the Blackfeet Nation; conservation groups; local utilities; and others. Its funding would be used over seven years. Elements include salaries and related costs for three new state grizzly bear technicians to address human-bear conflicts, as well as programs to address areas and items that attract bears. These would include bear-resistant garbage cans, electric fencing, efforts to reduce bear-livestock conflict, remote cameras, and radio tracking collars.
Montana’s Outdoor Legacy Foundation will oversee distribution of the mitigation funds.
“We are working to implement solutions that support both wildlife and communities,” Mitch King, the foundation’s director, said in a press release. “This funding will help expand conflict prevention programs and support the work of localized bear specialists.”
“BNSF is grateful for the insight provided by stakeholders in this process,” John Lovenburg, BNSF vice president of environment and sustainability, said in the release. “We look forward to working with federal, tribal, and state government partners and Montana’s Outdoor Legacy Foundation to ensure the effective implementation of the measures set out in the HCP, as well as the permit issued by USFWS.”
U.S. Fish and Wildlife is allowed to issue permits for “incidental takes” if they occur “incidental to … the carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity.” The BNSF permit allows for the taking of 19 bears, including nine females, over its seven years.
Conservation groups said in a press release that they are “cautiously optimistic” about the plan and permit.
“We are encouraged BNSF seeks to prevent its trains from killing more grizzlies,” said Pete Frost, attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center. Erik Molvar of the Western Watershed Project said the group is “hopeful risks to grizzlies will be lessened. We are disappointed, however, that speed reductions aren’t part of BNSF’s conservation package. The railroad slows down for human safety, and ought to do that for grizzly safety as well.”
BNSF was sued in late 2023 by conservation groups who argued the railroad was violating the Endangered Species Act by not having a plan and permit in place while killing 63 bears between 2008 and 2023 [see “BNSF sued over grizzly bear deaths …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 15, 2023]. There was no immediate word on the status of that lawsuit in light of approval of the plan and permit.
And why was 4 deaths per year considered significant, requiring BNSF action?
I wonder how many bears are killed by autos and 18 wheelers, have these “environmental” groups thought to sue the trucking companies. BNSF should be lauded for trying to reduce bear deaths and to be good stewards of the land.
A disgusting shake down that does nothing but extract money to fund more disgusting shake downs.
I’m not happy when a bear is killed, but let’s look at it in perspectve. The railroad has been there for a very long time, many bear genenrations. Yet the bear population hasn’t become extinct. So there must be some bears smart enough not to walk on the tracks.
I’m not flippant about it. I don’t like animals dying just because they’ve not adapted to human civilization. That said, this country has decided that a growing human population it to be supported by massive movement of freight. When a bear dies on the railroad, it’s not because of BNSF. It’s because you and I want the freight that BNSF moves.
BNSF should have sued those groups supporting this action for damage to locomotives, fences, and or any car or lading. This “one way” suit and settlement is a bunch of crap. Its about time those wackos get a taste of their own medicine.
A bear getting hit by a train is Darwinism in action.
Another example of why nothing can get done in this country.