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Canadian Pacific and Parks Canada have awarded grants to research teams at the University of Alberta and the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University to help further mitigate rail-related grizzly bear mortality in Banff and Yoho National parks.

During the next four years, the academic research teams, supported by experts from Parks Canada and CP, will test the effectiveness of grain aversion, determine potential off-site habitat improvements and better identify the causes of grizzly bear mortality along the rail corridor, CP officials said in a prepared statement.

The research projects, which are set to begin in spring pending approval of animal-care protocols, are the latest initiatives in a five-year joint action plan announced by CP and Parks Canada in October 2010.

“These innovative projects will incorporate the best science available to address railway-related bear mortality through shared responsibility,” said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Green.

Parks Canada’s short-term actions under the plan include a bear GPS collaring and monitoring program, as well as sight-line and sound-line improvements through vegetation management, CP officials said. Also, the researchers will establish an off-site test area to evaluate fence and closure alternatives to assess additional infrastructure that may be necessary to prevent bears from entering the rail corridor.