Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK)
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Our Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center's priority is to continue the important work of the Department of the Interior and the USGS, while also maintaining the health and safety of our employees and community. Based on guidance from the White House, the CDC, and state and local authorities, we are shifting our operations to a virtual mode and have minimal staffing within our offices. If you need additional assistance, please contact Claudia Regan at cregan@usgs.gov or Judy O'Dwyer at jodwyer@usgs.gov.
NOROCK in the News
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Climate & InvasivesNOROCK Quick Links
Check out our most up-to-date data, events and science.
Retreat of Glaciers in Glacier National Park
Glacier Repeat Photography Project
NOROCK ScienceNews
Friday's Findings - August 7 2020
Using Models and Web Applications for Chronic Wasting Disease Scenario Planning
Date: August 7, 2020 from 2-2:30 p.m. eastern time
Speaker: Paul Cross, Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
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USGS Scientists are Busy as a Bee
Many bumble bee species have declined in recent decades due to changes in habitat, climate, and pressures from pathogens, pesticides and introduced species. The western bumble bee, once common throughout western North America, is a species of concern and is being considered for listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act.
IGBST Public Notifications and Resources
As part of ongoing efforts required under the 2016 Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) captures and monitors grizzly bears for research and monitoring purposes. Here you will find capture notifications for the 2020 field season.
Publications
Increased drought severity tracks warming in the United States’ largest river basin
Across the Upper Missouri River Basin, the recent drought of 2000 to 2010, known as the “turn-of-the-century drought,” was likely more severe than any in the instrumental record including the Dust Bowl drought. However, until now, adequate proxy records needed to better understand this event with regard to long-term variability have been lacking....
Martin, Justin; Pederson, Gregory T.; Woodhouse, Connie A.; Cook, Edward R.; McCabe, Gregory J.; Anchukaitis, Kevin J.; Wise, Erika K.; Erger, Patrick; Dolan, Larry S.; McGuire, Marketa; Gangopadhyay, Subhrendu; Chase, Katherine J.; Littell, Jeremy S.; Gray, Stephen; St. George, Scott; Friedman, Jonathan M.; Sauchyn, David J.; St. Jacques, Jeannine-Marie; King, John C. Potential for recreational restrictions to reduce grizzly bear–caused human injuries
In 2011, 2 hikers were killed by grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in separate incidents on backcountry trails in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, USA (YNP). Hayden Valley provides prime habitat for grizzly bears and is known to have high densities of bears. During 1970–2017, 23% (10 of 44) of all backcountry grizzly bear–inflicted human...
Gunther, Kerry A.; Haroldson, Mark A. Specialized meltwater biodiversity persists despite widespread deglaciation
Glaciers are important drivers of environmental heterogeneity and biological diversity across mountain landscapes. Worldwide, glaciers are receding rapidly due to climate change, with important consequences for biodiversity in mountain ecosystems. However, the effects of glacier loss on biodiversity have never been quantified across a mountainous...
Muhlfeld, Clint C.; Cline, Timothy Joseph; Giersch, J. Joseph; Peitzsch, Erich; Florentine, Caitlyn; Jacobsen, Dean; Hotaling, Scott