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The diversity of habitat within and in the surrounding area provides for a variety of
<br />wildlife inhabitants: large and small mammals, waterfowl and other birds, amphibians, reptiles,
<br />and fish. Use of the area is both year round and seasonal; large mammals and waterfowl tend
<br />to migrate to the grassland and riverine environments in the fall and winter, while other
<br />wildlife is present throughout the year. Of the large mammals inhabiting the area, mule deer
<br />and elk are the most numerous and most frequently seen mammals. Grazing the high slopes
<br />and meadows in summer, these ungulates move to lower elevations when the temperatures
<br />drop. Nearly all of the lower slopes (those below about 7300 feet) and terraces flanking the
<br />nearby rivers provide suitable—and often critical—winter range. Although most of the elk and
<br />mule deer populations follow a migration pattern, occasional small groups browse the area
<br />year-round.
<br />During summer most of the elk are high in the thick spruce/fir forests atop the nearby
<br />mountain ranges and in winter they are found on the lower slopes (generally below 9000 feet)
<br />bordering the rivers. It is probable that, prehistorically, both elk and deer summer range
<br />extended below that of present populations, but overgrazing by domestic livestock has depleted
<br />the native grasses such that sufficient lower elevation summer range no longer exists. Other
<br />large mammals present include black bear, and mountain lion.
<br />Sufficient habitat exists in the project vicinity for a wide range of small mammals,
<br />including insect -eaters (Insectivora), bats (Chiroptera), flesh -eaters (Carnivora), gnawing
<br />mammals (Rodentia), and hares and rabbits (Lagomorpha). Both migratory and nonmigratory
<br />bats occur in the area and roost in old buildings, hollow trees, rock crevices, and caves.
<br />Carnivorous small mammals include the coyote and bobcat (both of which are found through-
<br />out the study area), the raccoon (which is common near water sources), and a variety of rodents
<br />and fur -bearers: beaver, muskrat, cottontail rabbit, pocket gopher, voles, mice, porcupine,
<br />weasel, ferret, mink, badger, striped skunk, spotted skunk, and fox. These furbearing mammals
<br />may be present in any of the vegetation communities, although they usually gravitate toward
<br />water sources.
<br />Avian species known in the general area include waterfowl, raptors, upland game birds,
<br />and a variety of smaller birds. The most common game birds are the blue grouse and turkey.
<br />Raptors reported in the vicinity include the turkey vulture, the red-tailed and other hawks, the
<br />golden eagle, the bald eagle, the prairie and peregrine falcons, the American kestrel, and
<br />several owl species.
<br />Climatically, the yearly average temperature is 32 to 45 degrees F., and there is a
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