There is outrage and investigations underway after video surfaced of a CN train plowing through a herd of antelope in southern Saskatchewan..The disturbing footage shows dozens of the panic-stricken animals being hit by the front of the train..The train can be heard blasting its horn in a desperate bid for the animals to move, but the natural instinct of antelope is to run straight down the tracks..Wildlife biologist Terry Kowalchuk, who’s also a dean at Lethbridge College, said it was unsettling to see the animals — an iconic shortgrass Prairie species — being overtaken by the train, reported Postmedia..“Their natural instinct is to outrun any sort of predator, any sort of disturbance. That has served them well. Any natural predator can’t catch them. It doesn’t bode well for them when they get into areas where they can’t outrun something like a vehicle or a train,” Kowalchuk told Postmedia.. antelopeShortgrass Prairie antelope Courtesy huntablerta.ca .“The other problem is snow. They are not very well adapted to dealing with snow.”.Canadian Pacific said the freight train hit the herd on November 15, west of Maple Creek..“When an incident like this occurs, crews are required to report it to the CP Operations Centre,” said CP in statement..“CP then alerts relevant stakeholders, including provincial authorities, about the wildlife strike.”.Crews are not always able to stop a train to prevent a wildlife collision, because it takes a freight train time to come to a complete stop, CP added..Saskatchewan government officials said train collisions with wildlife are not uncommon, especially when animals are on the move in search of food or trying to avoid deep snow..“Corridors such as railways and roadways make it easier for wildlife to get around,” the Environment ministry said in a statement..“However, we do acknowledge that in the case of this collision, the number of pronghorn impacted was significant and distressing.”. POLL: Many Albertans say they will ignore Christmas COVID lockdown .It said conservation officers have been called to four train collisions that killed more than 100 pronghorns between November 9 and November 20 — all of which were reported by CP..The video, obtained by Global, can be viewed here..WARNING: The video is extremely disturbing and viewer discretion is strongly advised..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694
