Rail companies are supposed to report collisions with animals in B.C., but an investigation by The Narwhal revealed reporting is inconsistent and incomplete.
Before I tell you about this week’s big investigation, I want to share a full-circle moment.
I started my career at CBC and when I left to work in independent media, I wasn’t sure if I’d get the chance to work with my colleagues at the national public broadcaster again.
Today I’m pinching myself because we did just that: our first-ever partnership with CBC is out in the world. It’s a sign of the power of our little newsroom, all thanks to the thousands of extraordinary people just like you who make The Narwhal possible.
Since Tuesday, 85 of you took the plunge to become our newest members, which means we’re just 315 away from hitting our 2025 target. Can you help get us over the finish line?
As climate change and human development reshape our world, people and animals are drawn closer together, intersecting in ways that can be dangerous for all of us.
The recent grizzly bear attack in Bella Coola, B.C., made that reality painfully clear. It also underscores a broader truth: the ways we manage climate pressures, land and infrastructure can create conditions which make coexisting with species hard, and can lead to tragic outcomes for both humans and wildlife.
This tension is at the forefront of a months-long investigation we published last night about the impact of railways on animals, including bears. Biodiversity reporter Ainslie Cruickshank wanted to know how trains are impacting wildlife. A simple question, but answers proved difficult.
Companies are supposed to report rail kills under B.C.’s Wildlife Act, but Ainslie obtained records that show reporting is both inconsistent and incomplete. B.C. was warned about this issue in the 1980s and seemingly still doesn’t know how big of a problem this is. Internal emails suggest at least some government biologists and conservation officers have been frustrated, Ainslie explains in the story. One document she found sums it up clearly: “Railway companies are difficult or impossible to work with.”
This investigation was a big undertaking and we wanted it to have a big impact. The Narwhal partnered with the Global Reporting Centre at the University of British Columbia to access train data through their project with the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism. Through that relationship, we also connected with CBC.
Ainslie shared her research and documents, informing CBC’s reporting featured this week on their flagship television program, website and radio news segments across the country.
Last night, I tuned in as Adrienne Arsenault introduced the story on The National, and said CBC “produced this story in partnership with journalists at The Narwhal.” It felt a bit surreal.
Ainslie’s investigation, with stunning design and interactive maps by web developer Andrew Munroe, is available to read now on our website. The first part examines what we know about the issue, the second looks at possible solutions and the third looks at wildlife and highways. She also offered a behind-the-scenes peek at the reporting process in a short video published this week on YouTube and TikTok.
If you’re wondering what the heck does any of this actually mean? — you’re not alone. On Tuesday, Dec. 2, reporters for The Narwhal will lead an online discussion on what we know, and what we don’t, about process, politics and potential impacts of Canada’s big push for big development.
The pipeline’s just the start: Carney’s deal with Alberta weakens (at least) 7 climate policies By Carl Meyer & Drew Anderson
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith have signed an agreement to advance Alberta’s pipeline dreams — and weaken some pollution laws.
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Rail companies are supposed to report collisions with animals in B.C., but an investigation by The Narwhal revealed reporting is inconsistent and incomplete.
Your access to our journalism is free, always. Sign up for our newsletter for investigative reporting on the natural world in B.C. — and across Canada — you won’t find anywhere else.
Your access to our journalism is free, always. Sign up for our newsletter for investigative reporting on the natural world in B.C. — and across Canada — you won’t find anywhere else.
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