Check out this thought provoking map of roadless areas in the US, courtesy of the Wild Earth Journal.
Cars and Strife: Banff National Park
Each year, thousands of cars and trucks head east to west and west to east on the Trans-Canada Highway. Along the way, many speed over the Canadian Rockies, whirring through the flat wilderness expanse of the Bo River Valley in Canadas famous 2,600-square-mile Banff National Park. In this protected area, bumper meets wildlife far more often than conservationists would likeabout half of reported wildlife deaths in the park are roadkills. In recent years, efforts to mitigate wildlife and vehicle conflicts have created their own dilemmas. For instance, bighorn sheep gravitated to the roadsides in cold months to lick de-icing salt off the pavement, often with fatal results. Now, with much of the highway fenced to keep the sheep and other wildlife from the roads, predators such as coyotes use the fences as corrals to trap and kill sheep near the highway.
Meanwhile, a series of 22 underpasses designed to allow wildlife access to the other side of the highway is used by elk and bighorn sheep, but doesnt seem to entice the parks wolves, grizzlies, and moose. Highway traffic and trains provide an even greater threat to these animals. For example, only one of the Bo River Valleys wolves survives; in 1991, 25 lived in the area in two packs. Since 1987, cars and trucks on the highway or trains barreling down nearby tracks caused 81 percent of known wolf deaths in the valley. While biologists and officials grapple with this situation, many fear that transportation through the park turns what should be a wildlife sanctuary into a wildlife cemetery.
Banff officials continue to experiment with exit gates animals can use if they wander from an unfenced area into the constrained, fenced part of the highway. Also, they recently built two wide overpasses that they hope grizzlies will use. Apparently permanent fixtures, the highway and railroad will continue to challenge park officials, who work closely with transportation officials, scientists, and concerned environmental groups to explore the best ways to help animals safely get to the other side of the road. "Were continually conducting research into reducing mortality," says Helen Kennedy, who works in the parks office of the superintendent. "Its active management that involves all stake-holders."
H.Y.
