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3.7.2.2 Small Mammals <br />Habitat of the NCEC project area is favorable for small mammal <br />populations considering the elevation and diversity of topography <br />and vegetation. Table 3.7-2 presents hunting and trapping statis- <br />tics for Small Game Management Unit 54 (in which the project site <br />is located) and for the State of Colorado. Unit 54 is 3190 square <br />miles with the permit area being 0.2~ and the proposed disturbed <br />area being 0.01 of the unit. As with the big game, relative <br />abundance of small mammals is greater in more remote areas of the <br />unit than that of the proposed facilities location. <br />• <br />Aquatic and riparian habitat along the Colorado River and its <br />tributaries is suitable for muskrat and beaver. DOW (1978c) has <br />estimated beaver populations in this portion of Colorado at 12 per <br />square mile of stream habitat. None were observed in the project <br />area during site reconnaissance surveys. Average numbers of beaver <br />and muskrat taken in Unit 54 over the last five years by trapping <br />were 329 and 1022, respectively, providing an average of 1009 • <br />recreation days per year. Other species in the project area which <br />are common to riparian habitat include the raccoon, striped skunk, <br />and weasel. <br />Rabbits and hares are the most commonly observed species in the <br />sagebrush and pinion-juniper habitats of the project area during <br />site reconnaissance surveys and are the most commonly hunted <br />species in the area. Average harvest for cottontail, snowshoe <br />hare, and jackrabbit in Unit 54 was 5200, 1237, and 2490, respec- <br />tively, providing a total annual average of 2998 recreation days <br />over the past five years. The yellow-bellied marmot was also <br />commonly observed during field reconnaissance in these habitats. <br />Coyotes are common throughout the project area. Average annual <br />numbers taken by hunting and trapping in Unit 54 were 187 and 252, <br />respectively, providing 3612 recreation days annually. Coyotes are <br />commonly observed at the Glenwood Springs Landfill. Other species • <br />NCEC - Coal Ridge #1 3-82 ABC/1145/900301 <br />