This website is best viewed in a browser that supports web standards.

Skip to content or, if you would rather, Skip to navigation.

Listen Live
Donate
MARYVILLE

KXCV-KRNW


News Brief

Feb. 21, 2020St. Louis |  By: AP

New helicopter to help state monitor bears, survey flooding

ST LOUIS (AP) - Missouri officials are spending $3.6 million to purchase a new helicopter to help fight fires, monitor flooding and track wildlife.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Airbus H125 is expected to be delivered to wildlife officials from a dealer in Texas no later than mid-June. State bidding documents released Tuesday provided details about the purchase.

Missouri Department of Conservation spokeswoman Candice Davis said that it will allow the agency to monitor the state's growing bear population and generate wildlife population estimates.

After flooding, it also will help officials survey areas that can't be reached by land.