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<br />occurring in all habitat types on t:-~e study area during October, 1979. The <br />results of the scent-station survey and the corresponding indices of rela- <br />tive abundance are presented in Appendx B, Part 3 and summarized in Tai~le <br />3. L•'or corq~arative purposes, the results o°_ two federally-surveyed lines <br />conducted bl' United States Fish and Wildlife Service (L'SFNS) in 1978 are <br />presented in Table 4. The 1979 results of tine surveyad lines are not avail- <br />able. <br />scent-station results indicate that :re coyote is the cost abundant mam- <br />malian predator in the vicinity of t'-,e Nucla mine. Comrarisrn of t`~e <br />scent-station data with the results of the federal lines indicate tnat coyote <br />populations in the vicinity of the Nucla mine were well belay the 1975 <br />state and regional averages. <br />The ~yote occurs throughout Colorado, from the eastern plains t:-uo:;gh the <br />central mountains to the western border. Some of the largest coyote popu- <br />lations occur in the southeast region. of the state (personal communication, <br />. 1~'arch 1980, Can Balser, Colorado Wildlife Research Unit). Rodents and <br />rabbits are the main items of diet, but they may depend on berries, carria~, <br />game animals, and domestic sheep in certain circ~unstances arxi at certain <br />times of tie year. <br />A species of fox was the second most abundant predator encounten:d at scPnt- <br />stations in the vicinity of the sti-ud_: area. Although different species of <br />foxes are difficult if not impossible to distinguish on the basis o£ tracks, <br />it is believed t*~at the fox encountered in the Nucla area Eras the red fax, <br />altFxaugh gray foxes were encountered on the nearby federally-surveyed lire. <br />Red foxes are secretive animals and are very rarely seen; none were seen <br />by pfARSaFi's field personnel.HOwever, interviews with local residents and <br />DCtV personnel (Rick Sherman) indicate that the reel fox is the one most <br />a^mronly observed in the area. In any case, foxes appear to be quits <br />ct¢nron in the area as the fox inde.~c as neterruned freer scent-station data <br />was above that recorded for the gray fox on the nearby survey line and the <br />state averages for both the gray fox aixi red fox. Both foxes eat a va:-iety <br />~~ of animals and plants including mt,~mrals, birt7s, reptiles, ~ ::'.;inns, insects, <br />earth:,+?rncs, berries, crrasses and forms (Le^hleitner 1969) . <br />-41- <br /> <br />.ruN s i +~aa <br />(Revised August 2006) Attachment 2.04.10-10-48 <br />