Grizzly bear may have been killed by train

The Daily Inter Lake

A grizzly bear has apparently been killed by a train in the Middle Fork Flathead corridor.

"It appears that a train did strike a male grizzly about two miles west of Coram," BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said Wednesday. "It was discovered by a BNSF crew on a rail maintenance vehicle at about 8:30 this morning."

Melonas said the cause of death will be confirmed by investigating officials with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. BNSF and Amtrak train crews are being questioned to determine which train may have struck the bear.

It was the first bear mortality of the year on BNSF tracks. Last year there were none, Melonas said.

He noted that there was no spilled grain in the area. Past bear mortalities on the tracks have involved bears attracted to grain spilled from freight cars.

"This is an unfortunate situation," Melonas said. "BNSF has taken strides in the past to support environmental programs to protect wildlife in this area and work with employees to educate them of wildlife activity in the corridor."