21 August 2005
Banff's Cherished Bear Killed by Train
Banff - Banff's best-known grizzly bear is dead after being struck by a
CP Rail train in Banff National Park.
Parks Canada officials said Bear 66, known for once strolling down Banff Avenue in the middle of town several years ago, was most
likely feeding on berry bushes with her three cubs near the tracks on Friday morning when she was hit.
The collision happened eight kilometres east of Castle Junction between Banff and Lake Louise.
Bear 66 had gained notoriety for her comfort around people.
She made headlines in June by nibbling on a sleeping bag occupied by a young Quebec man who had been camping in the woods.
Banff wardens spent thousands of hours in the past few years monitoring her and trying to deter her from areas close to people.
Despite the human confrontations, Bear 66 was considered a docile grizzly, having never shown signs of serious aggression.
"Everybody's going to be really saddened by this event," said Bob Haney, a town councillor and former chief park warden.
"Everybody was hoping that this female bear would manage."
There was no grain or other artificial substances on the railway line that might have attracted the bear, Parks Canada said in a
news release.
The 10-year-old bear had two previous litters of cubs, but none of those cubs survived to adulthood.
Popular hiking trails were closed at the end of last month to give Bear 66 and her cubs ample space and security as well as
protect people from potentially dangerous encounters.
Another young grizzly bear was also struck and killed by a train on the Canadian Pacific Railway, two kilometres west of Castle
Junction, on the night of 31 May 2005.
Parks officials said they are now contemplating how to ensure the survival of Bear 66's cubs.
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