Elk (Cervus elaphus) railway mortality in Ontario

Abstract

Wildlife railway research is highly underrepresented in science despite documented wildlife–train collision mortalities. Gathering baseline information is imperative to the development of effective train collision mitigation, especially for at-risk or small reintroduced populations such as elk (Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758) in eastern North America. We tested our hypotheses that elk–train collision rates vary in relation to railway structure and weather by using a combination of radiotelemetry and railway mortality surveys. Elk were closer to the railway in winter than in any other season. Elk–train collision sites were significantly closer to the apex of bends in the railway than random locations along the railway, and collision rates were positively related to snow depth. Railways may be perceived by elk as easy travel corridors, and deep snow likely prohibits escape from oncoming trains. This study gathered important information about an under-studied aspect of wildlife–human conflicts and provides a basis for the investigation of other species that may be affected by railways.