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ERC West Farm Pit Expansion Project Site <br /> Threatened-Endangered Species and General Wildlife Screening <br /> 3.0 SCREENING METHODOLOGY <br /> ERC conducted a literature review as part of initial data collection for preparation of this report. ERC <br /> reviewed available literature sources including: CPW information and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br /> (USFWS) Federal Register. <br /> A field inspection was subsequently conducted on November 5, 2020 to identify and document the <br /> presence of natural vegetation communities, general wildlife use and potential for threatened and <br /> endangered species/habitat. Upon review of all available resources, including literature and field <br /> inspections, ERC provides the following determination for the survey area. <br /> 4.0 GENERAL WILDLIFE HABITAT (NON-REGULATED) <br /> Wildlife utilizes the general landscape in a multitude of ways and uses a variety of habitats as areas of <br /> permanent inhabitance,seasonal inhabitance,breeding grounds, migratory routes,for foraging purposes, <br /> or as temporary shelter. Potential wildlife habitat includes the entire survey area. <br /> Historic and current land use associated with agricultural practices have restricted and/or degraded the <br /> development of any significant natural vegetation communities within a majority the survey area, which <br /> limits the overall quality of potential wildlife habitat.As discussed in Section 2.0,the habitat type observed <br /> within the survey is largely Cultivated Cropland. The Cultivated Cropland (98%) vegetation type is <br /> dominated by non-native or weedy species and is not typically considered of high ecological value to <br /> wildlife; however, agricultural lands may have beneficial values to certain wildlife species.These areas at <br /> a minimum are considered "open space" providing limited foraging and hunting grounds, refuge and <br /> limited areas for nesting (Kingery 1998). Such lands often serve as a buffer between natural areas, <br /> providing food, cover, nesting and open-space habitat which allow movement and exchange of plant and <br /> animal populations.The agricultural land which is present across the survey area has largely replaced the <br /> native shortgrass prairie habitat which would have been historically present in this region. Herbaceous <br /> non-native species and ruderal native species which permeate the vegetation community generally do <br /> not provide quality habitat for most wildlife.Within the survey area, significant limitations for wildlife use <br /> exist due to land use activities such as regular harvesting, habitat fragmentation from fences,overgrazing, <br /> and noise disturbances from roadways and agricultural practices within the survey area and in areas <br /> adjacent to the survey area. <br /> Local wildlife species that may use this habitat within the survey area include coyote (Canis latrans), red <br /> fox (Vulpes vulpes), rabbit (Lepus sp.), cottontail (Sylvilagus sp.), black tailed prairie dog (Cynomys <br /> ludovicianus),white-tailed deer(Odocoileus virginionus),deer mouse(Peromyscus maniculatus), meadow <br /> vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), mourning dove (Zenaida <br /> macroura), killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), barn owl (Tyto <br /> alba), hawks(euteo sp.),and garter snake(Thamnophis sp.).These types of species may utilize the survey <br /> area. <br /> • Generally, there are features within the survey area and the surrounding area that provide general <br /> habitat for local songbirds, raptors, and small to mid-size mammals; however,the habitats within the <br /> survey area are characterized as Cultivated Cropland, which may be degraded from a wildlife <br /> perspective by historic and current land use practices. <br /> 6 <br />