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nO?HO areas where habitats would be improved and the potential for supplying the needs of wild animals would be increased. Numerous habitats have been improved for many different species by designing timber sales whereby cover/forage ratios have been improved, forage production has increased and/or shelter has been provided. b. Alternative One Based upon the R2HABC!\P analysis, the following habitat capability potentials are available. These potential habitat capabilities have been generated from the acres of habitat discussed under the previous section '~ildlife Habitats." Season of Current Alternatives l'ipecies Use Situation ~ nm. ~ Black Bear Surmner 4 3 3 3 Mtn. Bluebird Sumrre r 1004 869 922 910 Mule Deer Surmner 297 260 275 275 Elk Sumrre r 80 42 44 44 Goshawk Surmner 1 1 1 I Blue Grouse Sumrrer 208 207 200 200 Blue Grouse Winter 57 57 47 44 Pine Grosbeak Sumrrer 1409 1235 1027 1027 pine Grosbeak Winter 2035 1738 1446 1493 pine Marten Year-round 9 8 7 7 Southern Red Backed Vole Year-round 135,642 118,924 95,653 95,653 These numbers show only minor changes in habitat capabilities; however, we know from past experience that the effects upon wild populations of animals are generally much more drastic due to harassment. The only species in the HABCAP model which shows a large reaction to harassment is elk and this is mainly due to road density (miles of road per section). This accounts for a large part of reduction in the number of elk from the current situation where there are 0.5 miles of road/section to Alternative One where there is anticipated to be 2.3 miles of road/section. (Although the highest density of roads will occur on private land, the model "spreads" the roads throughout the project area). The reduction in numbers occurs primarily because of the animals' responses to the various disturbance and harassment factors that accanpany the changes to their habitats. However, the degree or amount of effect caused by harassment or disturbance is very difficult to assess for the following reasons: 1) Different species of animals react differently to the same type of harassment; 2) Animals may react differently based on the time of year, i.e., winter versus surmner, or birthing and rearing of young versus the rest of the year; 3) They may react differently deperrling upon how limited their overall habitat is or how limited a certain habitat aspect is, i.e., calving habitat; 4) ~lany species of animals eventually 203