Mortality of Black Bears, Ursus americanus, associated with elevated train trestles

The Louisiana Black Bear (Ursus americanus luteolus), a threatened species in the United States, inhabits the Tensas and Atchafalaya River Basins of Louisiana. These basins contain three breeding populations, but dispersal among the populations is limited due to habitat fragmentation and a lack of corridors. Highways and railroads bisect the few available corridors. and mortalities occur as a result of collisions with vehicles. Waterways and flood control structures used as travel corridors by bears are crossed by road and rail bridges creating the potential for additional mortalities. We documented two mortalities associated with elevated railroad spans. Both occurred along the same span of track located within the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, and both mortalities were a result of the bear falling from the span or being struck by a train while crossing the trestle.