Missoula based Alter Enterprises provides live bear feed: Real-time video in the den sheds light on bruin behavior

When a young black bear awoke in his new den in a cottonwood grove along Rumble Creek last week, he probably thought he was alone. He was wrong.

The orphaned bruin was released by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks into an artificial den containing four real-time video cameras.

It is the first time the agency has been involved in an effort that uses live streaming Web video to monitor wildlife in Montana.

The remote camera system is not part of a FWP research study – the interactive satellite images are only available online to the private landowner who is financing the project – but Ryan Alter hopes the technology prompts interest from scientists and the general public.

"Think of it as your own personal ‘Animal Planet,’ ” said Alter, owner of Alter Enterprise http://alterenterprise.com/ in Missoula, which installed the remote viewing system. "This kind of technology instills a connection with nature."

By JOHN CRAMER of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/01/27/news/top/news01.txt