A railway increases the abundance and accelerates the phenology of bear‐attracting plants in a forested, mountain park

Railway edges in Banff and Yoho National Parks significantly enhance the abundance, diversity, and maturation rate of bear-attracting plants compared to adjacent forest areas. The study found that plant richness, cover, and flowering rates were greater near railways, with some species showing up to five times more fruit occurrence than 50 meters into the forest. Notably, buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis), a critical pre-hibernation resource for grizzly bears, exhibited higher sugar content, faster ripening, and increased fruit production within 15 meters of the rail. These findings suggest that railways may inadvertently increase strike risks for bears by concentrating food resources, particularly at higher elevations. The research used field surveys across two growing seasons to quantify plant responses along an elevational gradient, highlighting potential mitigation strategies such as removing attractants or creating safer foraging habitats.

Pollock, S. Z., Nielsen, S. E., & St. Clair, C. C. (2017). A railway increases the abundance and accelerates the phenology of bear‐attracting plants in a forested, mountain park. Ecosphere, 8(10). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1985