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<br />little more than 31,000 acres for North Platte. The mountain shrub type
<br />had the greatest disparity with over 6,000 acres along the South Platte
<br />and about 196,000 acres along the North Platte River. The wildlife
<br />associated with these habitats is fairly consistent for both rivers.
<br />The abundance of each species, however, varies with the quantity of
<br />available habitat.
<br />
<br />Wildlife Resources
<br />
<br />Major Game and Recreation Species.--~ broad diversity of wildlife
<br />species is found along the North Platte River. Only the major species
<br />of economic or aesthetic importance will be mentioned here.
<br />
<br />Big game species include black bear, mountain lion, elk, and bi9horn
<br />sheep found in the mountains and canyons along the western reaches of
<br />the river; pronghorn, which inhabit the plains adjacent to the river;
<br />white-tailed deer, which generally confine their activities to the zone
<br />of riparian vegetation and neighborin9 agricultural croplands; and mule
<br />deer, which are found in all of these areas.
<br />
<br />A number of small game species are found along the river, including
<br />cottonta i 1, snowshoe hare, fox sQui rre 1, raccoon, Merri am's turkey,
<br />blue grouse, sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, prairie chicken,
<br />bobwhite quail, and pheasant. Trapping is locally important with the
<br />most popular furbearers being muskrat, mink, beaver, red fo~., coyote,
<br />raccoon, and bobcat.
<br />
<br />Waterfowl receive heavy hunting pressure all along the North Platte
<br />River, with mallards, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, pintails,
<br />and Canada geese making up a large percentage of the total bag.
<br />
<br />In addition to these game species, a number of nongame species,
<br />including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles, are found along
<br />the river, which play an important part in a variety of nonconsumptive
<br />wildlife-oriented activities, including photography, bird-watching,
<br />wildlife observation, and environmental education.
<br />
<br />Concentration Areas.--There are a number of areas along the North Platte
<br />River whIch provide an abundance of one or more of the essential life
<br />requirements of a given species, such as migratory, breeding, resting,
<br />or feeding habitat. These areas often support large numbers of animals
<br />seasonally and are, therefore, referred to here as concentration areas.
<br />
<br />The North Platte National Wildlife Refuge (NPNWR), several miles north
<br />of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, annually supports over 100,000 mallards during
<br />the late fall and early winter months, until the open water habitat
<br />provided by irrigation reservoirs freezes over (Masek, 1981). Much of
<br />the North Platte River serves as wintering habitat for waterfowl,
<br />particul arly the reaches in the vicinity of Lake McConaughy and the
<br />reservoir itself. Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge (PNWR) also
<br />supports large numbers of migrating ducks and geese.
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