Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad is doing everything possible to remove every kernel of the 2,800 tons of corn spilled recently when 28 grain cars derailed from train G-SIOPAS1-15, a railway spokesman said Friday.

The derailment occurred in the Middle Fork Flathead River corridor, an area used by grizzly bears moving into and out of Glacier National Park.

In the same area, during the late 1980s, grain and corn spills were not entirely cleaned up and attracted grizzly bears, with eight of them subsequently killed by passing trains.

"As many as 30 truck loads were removed in one day this week," said Gus Melonas, a Seattle-based spokesman for BNSF. "We're removing corn from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m."

After the wrecked freight cars were removed, Melonas said rail-mounted vacuum machines were brought in. But the cleanup is expected to continue through May because of the sheer volume of grain, he said.

The railroad also contracted with the Wind River Bear Institute, an organization that regularly assists the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks with bear management. The institute arranged for trained personnel to patrol the spill area every night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Melonas said.

Portable generators have been brought in to power lighting systems that illuminate the spill area at night. A propane cannon sounds off every 15 minutes as a noise deterrent for bears. In the fringe areas of the spill, "critter getters" have been set up. Melonas said the devices transmit loud noises if they are activated by motion sensors.

Tim Manley, a state grizzly bear management specialist, said the combined measures seem to have discouraged bears from even approaching the site.

Melonas said BNSF also plans to remove the rock ballast under the tracks in the spill area in July to completely remove any corn that may have gotten buried under the tracks and railroad ties during track repairs.

Melonas said the cause of the April 20 derailment remains under investigation.