Up close and personal with an eagle

How many species of fish, mammals and birds live in Montana? Just ask a local middle school student.

On Friday, Havre Middle School students and sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders from St. Jude Thaddeus School got a whirlwind tour of Montana wildlife, learning about everything from the 5-pound giant Pacific bullfrog in the Bitterroot River to a record-setting 139-pound paddlefish.

Their tour guide was wildlife educator Vince Yannone, who is contracted by the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to give presentations about Montana wildlife to schools and other organizations across the...