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Wildlife Information <br />mine caretaker, Ray Ferguson. Black bear (Ursus americanus) scat was ob- <br />served and coyote (Canes latrans) songs were heard while on site. <br />Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and American elk ua k.a s apiteitiits.e vu neapby San Juan In- <br />ventoried hus) are abundant <br />in this areas and tracks and scat were also observed g <br />Roadless Areas' (IRA) big game populations number approximately 44,000 elk and <br />about 71,000 deer'. The bighorn sheep (Ovis 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 />irds <br />The project site provides healthy habitat for small mammals, rodents, <br />cavity nestinthe county n Jude r df ox <br />smaller predators. Smaller furbearmg game specie y common <br />(Vulpes vulpes), American beaver (Castor canadensis), mountain cottontail (Felis concolor), <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 jamaicensis) 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 />6.4.8(1)(b) Seasonal Use by Wildlife of the Area <br />The property is within the mid elevation (9000')or this area duringtane the spring andefalLre, elk and Elk wmtebe other <br />seasonal migratory wildlife will typically use this <br />low Baldy Mountainl. The spruce -fir forest habitat tootbe migratory and�winter, below and 1US Highway <br />tats for mule deer. Deer in La Plata County tend t g ry <br />ea for these species during milder climate years. <br />160. It may also serve as an over -winter use ar <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 forbs duringthe den <br />emergence and summer hyperphagia (feasting before hibernation). As noted above,bighorn <br />sheep may winter in this lower elevation area, as they <br />1 re occasionally seen in La Plata Canyon <br />and along the Junction Creek Road (USFS ) <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 />1 CDOW, 2006, Field Recommendations SW UD 12Ar <br />1211; ai 10 R5F.n15 for eF7 966 ADB 10 0/FieldRecomm ndationSan Juan IRAs.& , February 21, 2006. gspp <br />SWReJon Areal 5SanJuanlRAs.udf accessed 2010-09-02. <br />2 h ://www.co.la lata.co.us/de artments and elected officials/boards commission <br />s/livin wildlife adviso <br />board/deer fag accessed 2010-09-03. <br />Sunrise Mining, LLC <br />112(d) Permit AM -02 — May Day and Idaho Mine Application <br />Revised September 30, 2017 <br />Page 2 of 6 <br />Exhibit H — Rule 6.4.8 <br />