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..Oil'l! ~5 :j-..... WILDLIFE. TERRESTRIAL (Coloril:do Stand:uds for Public Lilnd Health. All terresuial wildlife informntion for St<lndarcJ #3) Affected Environment: The wide variety of habitat types ranging from Douglas fir forest to irrigated hay meadow which occur in the SRMA provide habitat for numerous wildlife species. Large mammals inhabiting the Area include mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, mountain lions, black bears. Small mammals including coyotes, bobcats, foxes, cottontail rabbits, and white-tailed jackrabbit are also common. A variety of birds also inhabit the SRMA and some of the more common species include golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, prairie falcons, blue grouse, and numerous songbirds, woodpeckers, and scavengers. Golden eagles and prairie falcons nest in the cliffs adjacent to the Colorado River in Gore Canyon and below Radium. The upland habitat which lies adjacent to the Colorado River is especially important winter range for mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk. These animals migrate to these lands from adjacent high elevation forest habitats to the north and spend winter months on the ridges and slopes which lie north of the Colorado River. Typical winters in the area often involve extreme low temperatures and heavy snowfalL The period df time deer and elk utilize this area is heavily dependant upon these seasonal climatic conditions. Environmental Consequences of Proposed Action: Management Prescription #1 (Boundary Adjustment): The proposed SRMA boundary adjustment is not likely to impact terrestrial wildlife unless the expansion of the SRMA increases recreational use of the area. Increases in activities such as camping and OHV travel in uplands adjacent to the Colorado River could have negative impacts on terrestrial wildlife if the proposed SRMA expansion attracts more recreationists. Management Prescription #2 (Identifying Land Use Priorities): The proposed action would identify the majority of the SRMA as a recreation priority. The proposed action would additionally establish or retain a water, soil, wildlife, protected, or no priority for some lands within the SRMA. The most critical wildlife habitat in the proposed SRMA would retain a wildlife priority. The management prescription for the recreation priority indicates that wildlife is compatible with recreation and that "Critical wildlife habitats, including threatened and endangered species habitats would be protected by limits placed on the location of recreation developments, certain types of recreation activities, and other compatible uses.". The recreation priority also provides for intensive management of wildlife habitat within a recreation priority area. The retention of a wildlife priority for the most critical wildlife habitat, as well as the RMP language should avoid any conflict with wildlife as a result of the proposed land use priorities. Management Prescription #3 and #4 (NSO for Oil and Gas Leasing, Land/Mineral Withdrawal): These management prescriptions would prOlect important wildlife habitat from disturbance and change. Increasing the acreage of NSO and a mineral withdrawal would protect additional habitat from development including road construction, pad construction, etc. and potential conflicting uses of these developments by recreationists in important wildlife habitat. 20