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Stop The Wildlife Slaughter On Canada’s Rail Lines

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Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site

Wildlife across British Columbia is dying in predictable, preventable rail collisions, yet CN refuses to release full data or take basic safety steps that could save lives.

Stop The Wildlife Slaughter On Canada’s Rail Lines

Wildlife deaths along rail corridors in British Columbia occur out of sight, but the scale of these losses is far greater than the public ever hears. Scientists warn that collisions between trains and wildlife form a widespread, underreported conservation threat that governments and railway companies have failed to address1. Without accurate data or transparent reporting, communities cannot understand how many animals are dying or where the highest-risk areas exist.

Animals die on predictable stretches of track year after year. Grizzlies, elk, moose, deer, and many smaller species are struck in known hotspots where trains pass at high speeds and attractants like spilled grain draw wildlife toward the tracks2. These patterns are well documented by observers on the ground, yet the full record remains obscured because rail operators are not required to disclose collision data. The absence of mandatory reporting keeps the public from seeing the reality.

Predictable Hotspots Demand Action

Across western Canada, repeat deaths occur in the same bends, straightaways, and feeding corridors. Studies show that simple mitigation can save lives: reduced speeds in hotspot zones, removal of grain along tracks, targeted fencing, and warning systems that alert wildlife to approaching trains1. These solutions have worked in other regions. Where they are implemented, wildlife mortality drops.

Globally, the pattern is the same. Endangered Asian elephants in India die along rail lines that cut directly through their forest routes3. Amphibians in Europe face deadly crossings during seasonal migrations4. Desert tortoises in fragile U.S. ecosystems are struck during movements in search of food and water5. In every case, the danger is predictable, and preventable steps exist.

CN Must Acknowledge the Crisis

Canadian National Railway (CN) operates in landscapes rich with wildlife and has the ability to change this trajectory. Transparent collision data, lower speeds in known hotspots, and restored warning systems would make a measurable difference. Communities, scientists, and Indigenous nations are calling for honesty and responsibility from the companies whose infrastructure shapes these habitats. Without clear data, stakeholders cannot respond, and preventable losses continue unchecked.

These animals are part of Canada’s ecological heritage and cultural identity. Treating their lives with respect requires compassion and accountability from those with the power to act. CN must acknowledge the gravity of these deaths and adopt measures that reflect a commitment to coexistence.

Sign the petition urging CN to implement stronger protections, provide transparent data, and take meaningful action to prevent further wildlife deaths.

More on this issue:

  1. John R. Platt, The Revelator (11 March 2024), “Why Wildlife Train Strikes Are So Often Missed.”
  2. Craig Momney, Global News (26 November 2020), “Canmore wildlife deaths spark concerns over train strikes.”
  3. AFP, The News International (14 November 2023), “Asian elephants in India face ‘elephant vs. train’ crisis.”
  4. Tim Schauenberg, DW (22 March 2024), “Frogs, toads and salamanders are on the move — and they need your help.”
  5. Evan Bush, NBC News (9 May 2024), “Desert tortoises killed in Red Rock Canyon accelerate conservation concerns.”

The Petition

To the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Canadian National Railway (CN),

Wildlife deaths along rail corridors in British Columbia and across Canada have become a quiet but devastating crisis. These losses occur out of public sight, yet communities, researchers, and Indigenous nations witness the consequences year after year. Grizzlies, elk, moose, deer, and many other species continue to die on predictable stretches of track where no meaningful mitigation has been put in place. CN plays a central role in these landscapes, and with that presence comes a responsibility to act.

Proactive safety measures can prevent many of these tragedies. Slowing trains in known high-risk areas would give both operators and animals crucial reaction time. Enhanced data transparency regarding wildlife collisions would allow scientists, local governments, and First Nations to identify patterns and collaborate on effective solutions. Reinstating and improving warning systems that alert animals to oncoming trains could dramatically reduce the number of fatal encounters, especially in corridors where such tools once proved useful.

These steps are not burdensome. They are reasonable, achievable, and necessary. The current lack of comprehensive reporting means the true scale of wildlife loss remains unknown, and CN’s public data does not reflect what independent observers routinely document. Accurate reporting and open data-sharing would help communities assess risk, protect threatened species, and hold all stakeholders accountable for results.

Compassion and humanity must guide this effort. Wildlife is not an obstacle to industry; it is part of the land, culture, and identity of countless communities across Canada. Many of these animals carry ecological and cultural significance that cannot be measured in economic terms. Treating their lives with respect reflects the values Canadians share and honors the connections Indigenous nations have upheld for generations.

CN has the ability—and the moral obligation—to lead. By adopting stricter safety protocols, restoring effective deterrent systems, sharing collision data transparently, and adjusting operations in hotspot regions, the company can save lives and build trust with the communities along its tracks.

Taking these steps now will ensure a future where industry and wildlife can coexist in safety, dignity, and balance.

Sincerely,

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