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<br /> <br /> <br />~ All seven species are insectivores, nocturnal and migratcr?r. <br />'~,.~ Several of the species roost in sheltered places such as <br /> caves, mine shafts or old buildings, mzking them particularly <br />~' susceptible to caanton destruction. Since the study sits <br /> possesses no suitable roosting sites for bats, it would <br /> <br />~. probably be used primarily as a foraging area. <br />_ 2.6.4 Laaomornha (Rabbits and Hares) <br />~_ Tcro species of hires (Snowshoe Hare and White-tailed <br /> Jackrabbit) and one species of rabbit (Nuttall's Cottontail) <br />-- are found in the Tr7illiams Fork ~4euntains (Armstrong, 1972). <br /> Snowsho:: hares a:,d cottontails were seen on the study site. <br /> A road .;filled white-tailed jacY.rabbit was seen tiro miles <br />• <br />. south of the study site in an area caith vegetat_on similar <br />~ to that at the site. <br /> <br />• All three species exhibit periodic fluctuations in <br />~ population densities. The population densities of all <br /> three species in the sted<<~ region are re 1o:r in 1976. <br /> EowPVer, the population sizes are increasing and arA <br />;:' e:cpectad to reach their flu-tuation ~;.edi;.5 fir, about twa <br />years (Hector, 1976 and Hoover, 197b). <br /> <br />~+ Snowshoe hares and cottontails are game animals in <br />Colorado, legally hunted frost appro:;imGta1y late October <br />~~:' through Febr•_ary each year. The tiillizms Fork i~!cuntains <br /> have suitabl_ habitat for cottontails, pro riding reasonably <br /> good rabbit hunting. In 1975, density of cottontails in <br />~_ the Williams Fork Mountains averaged 1.26 rabbits a,ar squire <br /> mile. During peak populatioh densities in its cycle the <br />' density of rabbits can be greater by a Factor of ten <br />~ (Hector, 1976). The study site provides good cottoatzil <br /> habitat znd probably has a higher density than the average <br /> density figure. <br /> The habitat preference of the snocshoe bare is <br /> coniferous and asaea forzsts above 8,000 feet. The ge.^.ar~1 <br /> elevation of the Williams Fork Mountains is too locr to <br /> provide extensive habitat and the Colorado Division of <br /> Wildlife places the entire Williams Fork bountains ou*_side <br />_ <br />~ the range o= snowshoe hare. However, one snowshoe bare <br /> was seen within an:aspen stand on the study site. A <br /> large population of 'snowshoe hares (densities bet:•reen 20 <br /> and 30 hares per square' mile) occurs south of S,iilliar.:s <br /> Fork River ion the Beaver Flat Toos. This population may <br />_ serve as the dispersal source fpr snowshoes found fir. the <br /> Williams Fork i3ountairis. <br /> White-*_alled jackrabbits zre generally corn.^or: in <br />`- <br />• suitable habitat within the S•7illiams Fork Mountains <br /> -65- <br />