Chronic Wasting Disease: The Broadus region of southeastern Montana is a likely area where chronic wasting disease will enter Montana because mule deer are known to be infected in nearby areas of Wyoming and South Dakota. Paul Cross at the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center is working with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to understand the movement of mule deer in this area so that we can construct appropriate management plans for the disease. We have also increased our surveillance of chronic wasting disease in this region.
Interdisciplinary Wetland Research at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge: The wetlands at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge provide tens of thousands of acres of key nesting and migration habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds in the Pacific Flyway. Of key interest to many are the nesting trumpeter swans, lesser scaup, redheads, and white-faced ibis. Refuge managers there wish to more fully comprehend the effects of activities on this magnificent wetlands complex. Scientists at the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center are examining the ecological connections among specific vegetative communities and their relationships with groundwater discharge conditions that are, in turn, driven by the glacial and post glacial geomorphology of this spectacular high mountain valley.
Wildfire and Amphibians: Recent wildfires in Glacier National Park have allowed researchers from the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center to conduct natural experiments on the effects of wildfire on both pond-breeding and stream-dwelling amphibians. Making use of data collected under the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative, researchers are able to compare occurrence of amphibians before and after fire and study the effects of fire on the life history of species such as the Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog.
The Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA): GLORIA is an international research network whose purpose is to assess climate change impacts on vegetation in alpine environments worldwide. The protocol was developed by a network of international scientists based in Vienna, Austria. Eventual implementation calls for 66 target regions globally. Currently there are 38 target regions including 4 active sites in North America. Scientists from the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center have established 4 conical summit locations exposed to the same local climate for monitoring alpine plants within Glacier National Park. Changes in plant species richness may be detectable at time-scales of 5 to 20 years, whereas clear signals for changes of vegetation cover and structure may become obvious over a longer period (20 to >50 years).
Grizzly Bears in Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE): The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) in northwest Montana is one of the last strongholds of the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) in the lower 48 states. However, little information exists about the status and trend of this population. Researchers from the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center are applying noninvasive genetic sampling at an unprecedented scale to develop the first defensible population estimate for the NCDE. The Northern Divide Grizzly Bear Project is an ongoing collaborative effort, working with managers and biologists to determine not only population size, but trend, survival, and to identify the corridors that maintain genetic connectivity across the population. The critical information gained from this work will aid decision makers in prioritizing conservation efforts for this threatened species.
Grizzly Bears in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Work by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) represents the longest study in existence on grizzly bears. Scientists from the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center began radio-marking bears in 1975. Data collected from these marked bears provide the information necessary for tracking key population parameters. By observing collared bears, Scientists from the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center document age of first reproduction, average litter size, how often a female produces a litter, and causes of mortality. These data allow us to estimate survival among different sex and age classes of bears. This information is used in conjunction with other estimates to assess population trend and help focus management activities toward issues that impact bears. Land and resource development, an increasing human population and their recreational activities, and the effects of introduced exotic species all continue to impact bear habitat. Ensuring the survival of the grizzly bear in the face of these impacts requires current information upon which to base management decisions. The research and monitoring efforts of the IGBST provide the critical information necessary to formulate informed decisions and guide management that will ensure long-term conservation of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Disease modeling in ungulates: Paul Cross, with collaborators at Univ. of California at Berkeley and Penn State, we are trying to understand how host movement and social structure affects disease dynamics. In these studies we combine information collected from field studies with theoretical models to predict disease invasion and assess different control strategies. The success of those control strategies often depends upon the characteristics of the disease as well as the host.
Wildlife Friendly Wind Power: The wind power industry is bustling in Montana. However, field biologists are becoming increasingly concerned about the effects that turbines have on bird survival, especially during major migration events. Rick Sojda at the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center have begun to work with the Computer Science Department at Montana State University to develop artificial intelligence-based methods for automatically identifying bird echoes in weather radar data. If we are successful, the nearly two decade long archive of radar data will be used to map key bird migration corridors.
Land Use, Sedimentation, and Prairie Potholes: Pothole wetlands are some of the most valuable, yet most vulnerable, of Montana’s wetlands. Such wetlands are the key waterfowl breeding habitat in the United States. Rick Sojda of the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center is collaborating with USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Sheridan County Conservation District, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Medicine Lake Wetland Management District to determine the extent of sedimentation in these wetlands of Northeastern Montana. Scientists at the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Centerare comparing the amount of sediment and its effect on wetland hydrology and the associated plant communities in shallow wetlands that are surrounded by cropland, native prairie, and conservation reserve planted grasslands.
Trumpeter Swans: In the conterminous U.S., only one group of Trumpeter Swans has survived historic overexploitation and habitat loss in the tri-state region of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming near what is now Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. Using DNA sequence and microsatellite analyses, scientists from the Fort Collins Science Center (Colorado) are investigating whether the tri-state flock is genetically different from other flocks across the swan's range. They are also helping decision makers by documenting gene flow and genetic diversity among flocks to determine if they are distinct enough to justify moving birds and eggs between flocks as a part of ongoing restoration efforts.
Wild horse research: On western rangelands, such as the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, wild horse populations increase at a constant high rate, creating significant management challenges for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wild horse specialists. Almost every management issue concerning wild horses depends on accurate herd counts. Reliable, science-based population estimates are needed for maintaining everything from herd health to habitat carrying capacity. Scientists from the Fort Collins Science Center are working with BLM and state agency personnel to conduct research needed for science-based management decisions concerning herd growth and management. Research includes field trials investigating the efficacy of fertility control treatments as well as any potential behavioral impacts of these treatments. In addition, scientists are testing population estimation techniques to produce more accurate herd counts.
Preventing plague: The federally endangered black-footed ferret, on the rebound from near extinction, still faces serious recovery obstacles. One of them—sylvatic plague—is found in the prairie dog colonies upon which the ferrets depend. Eliminating plague from prairie dog colonies is essential for ferret recovery, so researchers at the Fort Collins Science Center are testing two approaches. One involves developing vaccines against plague for both of these animals. Oral vaccine for prairie dogs has shown promise in experimental studies, and a successfully tested injectable vaccine is undergoing field trials on ferrets released in the wild. A second approach involves eliminating or reducing the incidence of plague from test areas by reducing the population of fleas that transmit the disease. Scientists are assessing the efficacy and cost of a flea control dust within burrows and are measuring the responses of prairie dog and other associated mammal populations.
The Conservation Reserve Program is the largest environmental program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with enrollment exceeding 34 million acres across all 50 states. In Montana alone, 3.4 million acres on 6,707 farms are in the CRP. Based on an average rental payment, the CRP brings in over $114 million per year to Montana’s farm economy. Improvement in program performance is an enduring goal of CRP administrators. For the past 9 years, and continuing today, USGS scientists from the Fort Collins Science Center have been working in partnership with the USDA Farm Service Agency to help improve the program by evaluating program performance both socially (how is it working for CRP contractees?) and ecologically (how is wildlife habitat improved?). In June 2004, FORT and FSA sponsored a national meeting for more than 200 participants and presenters to address and present research on these issues as well as future CRP directions. The proceedings, The Conservation Reserve Program: Planting for the Future, was published in 2006.
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
Chronic Wasting Disease: The Broadus region of southeastern Montana is a likely area where chronic wasting disease will enter Montana because mule deer are known to be infected in nearby areas of Wyoming and South Dakota. 
Interdisciplinary Wetland Research at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge: The wetlands at 
Wildfire and Amphibians: Recent wildfires in Glacier National Park have allowed researchers from the 
The Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA): GLORIA is an international research network whose purpose is to assess climate change impacts on vegetation in alpine environments worldwide. The protocol was developed by a network of international scientists based in Vienna, Austria. Eventual implementation calls for 66 target regions globally. Currently there are 38 target regions including 4 active sites in North America. Scientists from the 
Grizzly Bears in Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE): The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) in northwest Montana is one of the last strongholds of the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) in the lower 48 states. However, little information exists about the status and trend of this population. Researchers from the 
Grizzly Bears in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Work by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) represents the longest study in existence on grizzly bears. Scientists from the 
Disease modeling in ungulates: 
Wildlife Friendly Wind Power: The wind power industry is bustling in Montana. However, field biologists are becoming increasingly concerned about the effects that turbines have on bird survival, especially during major migration events. 
Land Use, Sedimentation, and Prairie Potholes: Pothole wetlands are some of the most valuable, yet most vulnerable, of Montana’s wetlands. Such wetlands are the key waterfowl breeding habitat in the United States. 
Trumpeter Swans: In the conterminous U.S., only one group of Trumpeter Swans has survived historic overexploitation and habitat loss in the tri-state region of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming near what is now 
Wild horse research: On western rangelands, such as the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, wild horse populations increase at a constant high rate, creating significant management challenges for 
Keeping Cottonwoods: The Wild and Scenic Reach of the Missouri River has a narrow, discontinuous fringe of plains cottonwood that is highly valued for wildlife habitat and human recreation. Recruitment of new saplings and trees is limited, despite abundant germinating seeds. The 
Preventing plague: The federally endangered
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