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about 71,000 deers. The bighorn sheep (Otis canadensis) summer range is at higher elevations <br /> to the west between Baldy and Baker Peaksl. They may over winter in Little Deadwood, but <br /> more likely in the less populated foothills to the east of the peaks. <br /> The project site provides healthy habitat for small mammals, rodents, cavity nesting birds and <br /> smaller predators. Smaller furbearing game species fairly common to the county include red fox <br /> (Vulpes tulles), American beaver(Castor canadensis), mountain cottontail (Felis concolm), <br /> raccoon (Procyon lotor), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus)and stripped skunk(Mephitis me- <br /> phitis). The small mammals include a variety of mice, chipmunks, squirrels, voles, gopher, <br /> woodrat,and bats. Passerine birds are the most notable wildlife type on this property with a <br /> large variety of species and active daytime habits. Red-tailed hawk(Buteo jmuaicensis) is the <br /> only common raptor. Reptiles and amphibians are less common in this montane slope habitat, <br /> but are expected to occur in the La Plata River floodplain. Insects are abundant and diverse in <br /> this health forest ecosystem. <br /> Seasonal Use by Wildlife of the Area <br /> The property is within the mid elevation (9,000') for this montane region; therefore,elk and oth- <br /> er seasonal migratory wildlife will typically use this area during the spring and fall. Elk winter <br /> below Baldy Mountain 1. The spruce-fir forest habitat provides srinuner, fill I and transitional <br /> habitats for mule deer. Deer in La Plata County tend to be migratory and winter below US <br /> Highway 160. It may also serve as an over-winter use area for these species during milder cli- <br /> mate years. <br /> Because of the high concentration of big game prey species, the area is also important to moun- <br /> tain lion. Black bear depend on the mixture of native grasses, shrubs and fortis during the den <br /> emergence and summer hyperphagia (feasting before hibernation). As noted above, bighorn <br /> sheep may winter in this lower elevation area, as they are occasionally seen in La Plata Canyon <br /> and along the Junction Creek Road (USFS Road 171)1. <br /> Migratory birds may use the La Plata Canyon riparian zone during spring and fall migrations, <br /> though they may be inclined to rest either up or down river due to the close presence of the <br /> community of Mayday to the property boundaries. Also, the steep mountainous train of the can- <br /> yon leading to the higher Rocky Mountain peaks is not an easy route for migration. <br /> Federal-and State-Listed Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species <br /> A total of five endangered, two threatened, and one candidate wildlife species are federally-listed <br /> by the U.S. Dish and Wildlife Service for La Plata County, Colorado(see Appendix R-2). Tire <br /> federal list also includes gray wolf(Canis hrptrs)and whooping crane(Gros americana). Both <br /> ' CDOW,2006,Field Recommendations S\y Region Area 15 for the San Juan IMs.doc,February 21,2006. 18pp. <br /> Mtp://�tiildlilc.state.co.us/I�ft/rdo�il��res/iI1913yt3 )335-4230-tS5EC3-1:739662ADB10/0/1-ieldRecomiiiciiClalionS <br /> SWileeionAreal5SainJuanlRAs.pdfaceessed 2010-09-02. <br /> s http://\Vw«.co.lanlata.co.us/4MLagments and elected officials/boards cornmissions/living wildlife advisory_ <br /> board/deer fag accessed 2010-09-03. <br /> 2 <br />