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EXHIBIT "H" <br /> 6.4.8 Wildlife Information <br /> (1) Description of game and non-game resources on and in the vicinity of the <br /> Operation: <br /> Ecological Site R067BY002CO: <br /> Section II: Ecological Site <br /> Interpretations <br /> Animal Community <br /> WILDLIFE INTERPRETATIONS: <br /> Western Wheatgrass, Blue Grama, Green Needlegrass, Fourwing Saltbush Plant <br /> Community-Historic Climax Plant Community(HCPC)and Blue Grama/Buffalograss <br /> Sod,Western Wheatgrass and Shrubs Plant Community: <br /> Common bird species expected on these communities include Cassin's sparrow, <br /> chestnut collared longspur,lark bunting,western meadowlark,and ferruginous and <br /> Swainson's hawks.White-tailed and black-tailed jackrabbit,badger,pronghorn,coyote, <br /> swift fox, plains pocket gopher, long-tailed weasel,and several species of mice are <br /> mammals that commonly use these plant communities.Reptiles using these communities <br /> include western rattlesnake,bullsnake, plains garter snake(if water is in home range), <br /> western hognose snake, racer,western box turtle,and six-lined racerunner. <br /> Blue Grama/Buffalograss Sod with Cool Season Remnants Plant Community: <br /> The reduction of shrubs and taller grasses in this plant community results in a shift of bird <br /> species away from the HCPC birds. Lark bunting, chestnut-collared longspur,and <br /> western meadowlark use declines and Cassin's sparrow stop using the community <br /> altogether. Habitat conditions are ideal for long-billed curlew.McCown's longspur, <br /> burrowing owl,mountain plover,killdeer,and horned lark begin using this community. <br /> Ferruginous and Swainson's hawks are frequent users of this community. <br /> Most mammals will be the same as in the HCPC, however jackrabbit,black-tailed prairie <br /> dog,desert cottontail,and thirteen-lined ground squirrel use will increase because of the <br /> changing plant community_ Reptiles using this community are the same as in the HCPC. <br /> Low Plant Density, Excessive Litter Plant Community; Blue Grama/Buffalograss Sod <br /> Plant Community;Red Threeawn,Annuals, Bare Ground Plant Community; and Go-back <br /> Land Plant Community: <br /> Burrowing owl,mountain plover, horned lark, McCown's longspur,killdeer,and long-billed <br /> curlew use these plant communities.With the exception of the hawk species, no HCPC <br /> bird species would frequent these communities. Jackrabbit,black-tailed prairie dog, <br /> thirteen-lined ground squirrel,and desert cottontail rabbit are frequent users of these <br /> communities.All other mammal species from the HCPC may use the community. <br /> Reptiles using these communities exclusively are short-horned lizard and lesser earless <br /> lizard.Other reptiles using these communities include the species listed for the HCPC. <br /> 47 <br />