Biologists help threatened fish flee fire
Posted at: 06/10/2009 9:15 PM
By: The Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Biologists and firefighters spent the day trying to capture as many Gila trout as possible from a creek in southwestern New Mexico as flames inched closer to the threatened fish's home.
The lightning-sparked Meason Fire has charred nearly six square miles (more than 3,600 acres) in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness north of Silver City.
Forest officials decided to evacuate the trout when the fire started moving toward South Diamond Creek. Electroshockers were used to stun the fish so they could be placed in a large bucket.
A helicopter transported the bucket out of the wilderness to a special truck that was waiting to take the fish to a hatchery in northern New Mexico. Forest officials say about 250 trout were evacuated.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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