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Cross Gold Mine <br />December 2024 H-1 <br /> <br /> <br />Exhibit H Wildlife Information <br />This section has been developed using the CPW wildlife mapping service and information on the <br />threatened and endangered species both federally and within the state. <br />Various species make use of or potentially make use of the site based on historical and ongoing <br />operations, as well as the CPW map. Various species of bats are known to reside in the caves and/or <br />mines in the surrounding area. Typical subalpine forest species such as bears, deer, elk, various birds, <br />moose, mountain lions, and various mountain rodents are likely to frequent the site and surroundings. <br />The CPW will be consulted as part of the permitting process. <br />1. Description of Significant Wildlife Resources on Affected Land <br />The only significant wildlife uses of the site are as moose priority habitat and concentration area as well <br />as elk summer concentration. Both of these uses are limited to the western portions of the site where <br />there is very little surficial activity. Mining activities present within this range include small dirt roads, the <br />Caribou 300 Level Portal, and existing pre-law mine dumps. These activities are not anticipated to <br />affect the moose and elk habitat resources as they are small in scale and have existed for much of the <br />historic operations. Additionally, the portion of the site within the habitat resources is just a small portion <br />of the larger overall area utilized by elk and moose. <br />2. Seasonal Land Use of the Area <br />Mule deer and elk make use of the entire site as summer range. However, both of these species’ <br />summer ranges expand vastly throughout the Rocky Mountains. Therefore, the activities of mining and <br />especially those proposed in this amendment are not expected to impact the seasonal land use of this <br />area. <br />3. Threatened or Endangered Species Presence & Estimated <br />Population <br />A few species of endangered, threatened, or state special concern are identified by the CPW’s mapping <br />service to potentially make use of the site. None of these species have been identified in the <br />surrounding area. However, they are addressed below: <br />Townsend’s big-eared bat (state special concern): The entire site is within this species much larger <br />overall range that expands across much of the eastern and western edges of the Rocky Mountains in <br />Colorado. They reside in mines, caves, and large rock cavities to elevations above 9,500 feet. <br />Boreal Toad (state endangered): The entire site is within this species’ overall range within the Rocky <br />Mountains. This species is sparsely found throughout the Rockies and localized to suitable breeding