Photographer Helps Grizzly Bear Narrowly Escape Oncoming Train

A filmmaker captured the moment a legendary grizzly bear, known as “The Boss,” had an incredibly close call with an oncoming train.

Earlier this month, videographer and photographer Andy Arts helped protect The Boss, who is one of the famous grizzlies in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, from being run over by a moving train.

In a report by Global News, the filmmaker recounted the terrifying moment that he watched the huge grizzly bear narrowly escape the Canada Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) train coming straight towards him.

The Boss Has Been Hit By a Train Before

Arts says that he was watching The Boss for 20 minutes as he was eating grain from the tracks. The filmmaker then heard a train whistle and ran towards The Boss yelling for it to move away.

In the footage shot by Arts, the filmmaker is heard loudly warning the grizzly bear, who has previously survived being hit by a train. The huge animal gets off the train tracks mere seconds before the train approaches.

“I went about 10 or 15 feet forward and I was yelling it to move, and it looked up at me and then just nonchalantly just got up and left,” Arts tells Global News.

“Seven seconds later the train goes whizzing by, and I thought it was incredible because he has been hit by a train twice.”

The Boss along with another bear known as Split Lip are the two largest, toughest, and most famous grizzlies in Banff National Park.

Parks Canada says it is now implementing a no-stopping zone along the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park to protect the two bears that have been persistently showing up along the railway tracks.

Parks Canada says that the bears are attracted to the spilled grain in the area and staff have attempted to use hazing to discourage the bears from spending time along the train tracks.

However, efforts have been unsuccessful because other natural foraging areas are covered in snow. The grain is also too dispersed to be cleaned up effectively.

 
Image credits: Feature photo licensed via Depositphotos.