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As shown in the diagram on the following page, 777 acres of suitable deer <br />• habitat is available east and north of the area to be disturbed. It is safe to ossu me <br />that even if the deer numbers are higher than estimated and allowing for livestock <br />use, there is more than adequate range and forage in the adjacent area to sustain <br />any deer displaced during mining. Additionally, it should be noted that reclamation <br />will be ongoing during mining and the deer will be able to forage on the new <br />vegetation and use the undisturbed areas for cover. <br />Aerial and ground observations during the summer of 1979 and spring of 1980 <br />(Table 2.7-6), indicate that the habitats offering the most cover and protection, <br />unreclaimed spoils, mountain shrub and aspen, are used by the does for fawning and <br />rearing areas. The highest concentrations of deer on the property are on the <br />unreclaimed spoils, followed by mountain shrub and aspen habitats (Table 2.7-4), all <br />of which offer good cover. All habitat types were used by the deer for foraging, but <br />the extent to which the reclaimed areas are used appears to be dependent upon the <br />distance to cover. Once the animals ore more than 200-300 yards from cover they <br />remain more alert and tend to flee more readily than when close to cover. On some <br />portions of the large reclaimed area north of East Ridge there was no use by deer <br />• observed except for a few animals moving through the area in the fall. <br />As with the elk, deer numbers appear to remain fairly constant until fall when <br />the influx of animals during the hunting season and rut causes a small increase in <br />numbers. <br />Small Game <br />Small game species are comprised of The mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus <br />nuttalli) and the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). Cottontails and hares occur aT <br />low abundance. Cottontails occur in all habitats except reclaimed grass and hares <br />are found primarily in aspen and unreclaimed spoils with a few in the mountain shrub <br />(Table 2.7-4). Both species presently appear To be at a low point in their population <br />cycles. Increases in their abundance are expected during the next few years. <br />Threatened or Endangered Species <br />No threatened or endangered species of mammals as listed by the Colorado <br />C~ <br />Revised 7-81 2.7-28 <br />