Laserfiche WebLink
A total of 3 proposed exploration drill sites and associated access roads were <br />surveyed. A summary of findings for each drill site and road corridor <br />follows. Drill site locations and access roads are shown on Figure 1. <br />A record was kept of all birds observed during the site surveys. No attempt <br />was made to quantify numbers observed at each location. A total of 36 <br />different bird species were observed during the surveys and during travel to <br />and from sites. All species identified and location where observed are <br />included in Table 1. In instances where drill sites are located immediately <br />adjacent to an existing road, data were kept only for the site. In those <br />instances where there were access roads, observations along the road are <br />recorded under the drill site. <br />Unless there were observations of a specific nature, big game including deer, <br />elk and bears are not discussed for each site. There was evidence of deer <br />and elk activity at or near all proposed roads and drill sites and both species <br />' were observed on occasion. The amount of activity was about what would <br />be expected in this area given the vegetation communities and topography. <br />No bears were observed, but there was considerable evidence (tracks and <br />' scat) of bear activity throughout the area. There is considerable habitat <br />available for these three species and the small amount of habitat to be <br />disturbed during exploration would not affect their activities in the area. <br />GENERAL OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING T & E, SENSITIVE <br />AND MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES <br />In reviewing the list of species and their habitat requirements provided by <br />the USFS the conclusion can be drawn that habitat for most of these species <br />is lacking, very limited or of poor quality at, and around, all proposed drill <br />sites and access roads. <br />T&E Saecies <br />The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) lists two ground <br />dwelling mammals. These are the Canada lynx and black-footed ferret. In <br />the general vicinity there is a small amount of potentially suitable denning <br />and other habitat for lynx. The USFS has mapped areas near sites CCC, <br />EEE and FFF as potential lynx denning habitat. The sites are located several <br />hundred yards from any area mapped as suitable denning habitat. These <br />mapped areas were surveyed during raptor nest surveys in June. The <br />