PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Census workers are using snowmobiles, airplanes, all-terrain vehicles - even lobster boats - to visit the most far-flung, hidden-away dwellings when counting the nation's populace.

Hand-delivering 2010 census questionnaires in the bush of Alaska, Maine's North Woods and other isolated regions isn't as simple as strolling up a front walk to a suburban home. To get to the more remote homes, census workers might fly over mountains or onto far-removed islands, four-wheel it through forests and contend with deep snow, bone-chilling temperatures and wildlife on the move.

In Maine, census workers will begin delivering forms this week by whatever means it takes - ATV, snowmobile, cross-country skis or snowshoes - to get to those hard-to-get-to places.

"You don't now what you're going to find," said Danielle Forino, who will use her ATV  to get to hunting, fishing and logging camps in the wilds of far northern Maine. "And I definitely anticipate coming across a lot of wildlife; the bears are coming out so we have that to look forward to.  And I'm not sure if the people will want to be bothered, but hopefully they'll be cooperative."

One woman rode horseback to get to homes for the 2000 census, said Rick Theriault, manager of the Census Bureau's Bangor office for this year's census.  In Alaska, dog sleds are used.

"We do whatever it takes to get the job done," Theriault said.

read full article here