February 19, 2008 – Montana Tech, Butte, MT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Big Hole Residents to Receive Artic Grayling Survey

Butte, MT –Montana Tech researchers studying Artic grayling biology are mailing over 500 opinion surveys to a sample of residents in the Big Hole River Watershed. Residents should expect to receive surveys by the last week of February. The survey addresses residents’ knowledge and concerns regarding Artic grayling populations and their management in the Big Hole River Watershed. Survey respondents are asked if they have ever seen or caught grayling and what factors and management actions they believe help or harm grayling populations.
Responses to this survey are completely anonymous and can be returned in a postage-paid envelope to Montana Tech, in care of the “2008 Arctic Grayling Survey”. Researchers hope to have most surveys returned to MT-Tech by the end of March. Survey respondents are also eligible for a free gift certificate drawing by returning a drawing entry ticket in a separate enclosed envelope.
Michelle Anderson and Kylene Owens, researchers at Montana Tech in the biological sciences, will analyze questionnaire responses and report their findings to the public by late spring, 2008. Ms. Anderson and Ms. Owens will compare survey responses to a computer model of grayling population current status and future trends.
For more information contact Michelle Anderson, Visiting Assistant Professor at MT-Tech, in Butte at (406) 496-4807 or manderson@mtech.edu.