01/08/10

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ The Idaho Department of Fish and Game says a
helicopter carrying two research biologists has crashed on the
North Fork of the Clearwater River.

The agency says the biologist and pilot did not suffer
life-threatening injuries during the crash around noon Friday. The
biologists were in the region putting radio collars on elk, moose
and wolves.

The department will suspend all flights until next week to
review safety procedures.

State Fish and Game biologists fly about 1,000 hours each year
to conduct aerial surveys, wildlife counts and capture wildlife for
research.

The agency says it hasn't had an aircraft accident since
December 2000, when a wildlife biologist was killed during a
helicopter crash.


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