Citizen Scientists to the Rescue for Glacier Park

For the two Glacier National Park wildlife biologists who monitor over 70 mammal and 260 bird species, research needs have heaped into a mountain. Scant dollars permit the pair to share only four seasonal science technicians who are funded mostly to monitor wildlife along major park roadways. “There is little opportunity for wildlife technicians to get into the backcountry,” says Park Service ecologist Tara Carolin.

Enter citizen science – a way to solicit more eyes and ears to help. During the past two summers, Glacier Park beefed up its loon studies with volunteers. “We’ve gotten so much data compared to what we’d get with one science technician,” says Jami Belt, who coordinated the successful project. “Citizen science is a way to meet the backlog of research needs.” This summer, while continuing the loon study, the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center (CCRLC) adds two new citizen science projects to its research arsenal.

Full Story: http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/citizen_scientists_to_the_rescue_for_glacier_park/4063/