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territories and are probably carrion feeders, but will prey. on • <br />anything from birds to moose. Their historical range is densely <br />forested, higher elevation mountains throughout Colorado with <br />greatest concentrations in the north. Unconfirmed reports have <br />emanated from Chaffee and Jackson County. Under present knowledge, <br />no areas are considered essential habitat and the species is not <br />expected to be impacted by the mine development. <br />River Otter (Lutra canadensis). State Endangered Species. The <br />otters habitat requirements are major waterways and lakes. Water <br />quality must be high with an abundant food supply of fish, am- <br />phibians, and crustaceans. The water must be open year round with <br />a minimum flow of 10 cfs. The otter was historically present in <br />every major drainage in the state including the Colorado River. It <br />has been extirpated in Colorado (Armstrong, 1972), but reintroduced <br />in the South Platte and Gunnison drainages. The Colorado River in <br />the project area meets the above mentioned requirements for <br />essential habitat; however, areas above and below the mine site <br />have a higher potential to support the otter. Development of the . <br />project is not expected to impact the species. <br />Grav Wolf (canis lupus), State and Federal Endangered Species, and <br />Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos), State Endangered and Federal <br />Threatened Species; both include Colorado as a portion of historic <br />range. Both are considered extirpated in the state and habitat <br />requirements are poorly known at best. Under present knowledge, <br />there is no essential habitat in Colorado and it is generally <br />understood that there is very little potential for recovery of <br />either species. <br />3.7.6.2 Birds <br />Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Federal Endangered Species. <br />The State list considers only the southern subspecies H. 1. <br />leucocephalus. Essential habitats for this species are riparian <br />woodlands and large rivers and impoundments where eagles can forage • <br />NCEC - Coal Ridge #1 3-90 ABC/1145/900301 <br />