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mapped areas were found to lack suitable habitat and prey base conditions <br />for denning by lynx. No areas near the sites were mapped as suitable winter <br />habitat for lynx. Within the study area "other potential lynx habitat" has <br />been delineated by the USFS. By defmition this means that it is not <br />considered denning or winter foraging habitat, but could be used by lynx. <br />These areas are found within a few hundred yards of all sites. However, no <br />lynx are known to occur within many miles of this area and considerable <br />suitable habitat exists in those areas where they are currently located. It is <br />probably safe to assume that no lynx would move into the area. Further, <br />drill site and road construction will not result in the loss of any mapped <br />suitable habitat. <br />No suitable habitat exists for the black-footed ferret on National Forest lands <br />or in this part of the state. <br />No suitable habitat for spotted and Townsend's big-eared bats exists in the <br />vicinity of the proposed drill sites or access roads. <br />The southwestern willow flycatcher is listed as Endangered by the FWS. <br />The FWS has determined that habitat for this species is lacking in the <br />Gunnison River Basin. There have been no documented observations of this <br />species in this region of Colorado. <br />The bald eagle and Mexican spotted owl are listed as Threatened by the <br />FWS. There is no suitable habitat for either of these species within the <br />project area. There are no records of the Mexican spotted owl having been <br />observed on the forest. The nearest suitable habitat for bald eagles is several <br />miles north along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. <br />The yellow-billed cuckoo is listed as a candidate species by the USFWS. <br />No Cottonwood dominated riparian gallery forests used by the yellow-billed <br />cuckoo is found near the project area. The nearest suitable gallery forest <br />habitat is found along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The nearest <br />observation of this species was made along the Uncomphagre River. <br />The boreal toad is listed as a candidate species. Suitable habitat for this <br />species is found in the project area, but none of the ponds or water sources <br />will be affected by the proposed exploration operations <br />3 <br />