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Five species were seen exclusively in sagebrush. One species <br />that was especially attracted to sagebrush was the vesper sparrow. As <br />noted, vesper sparrows were the most abundant bird in sagebrush. <br />Although common ravens, black-billed magpies, and European starlings <br />were only seen in sagebrush plots during breeding bird surveys, those <br />species were observed in other habitats during the 1993 field season. <br />The two lazuli buntings (Passerine amoena) observed in sagebrush on 13 <br />June were the only buntings seen in the Yoast area. <br />Surprisingly, no western meadowlarks (Sturnella nealecta) were <br />observed on the sagebrush plots. However, meadowlarks were observed <br />in sagebrush habitat during other field studies, and it is likely that <br />they bred on the proposed Yoast permit area. <br />SMALL MAMMALS • <br />Small mammal trapping results are presented in Table 12. Six <br />species of rodents and one species of shrew were captured. As is <br />often the case with small mammal trapping, the deer mouse (Peromvscus <br />manlculatus) was the most ubiquitous species encountered. This was <br />the only species caught in all five habitats. Deer mice were the most <br />abundant small mammal in every habitat except bottomland (Table 12). <br />Species captured in four of the five habitats trapped included <br />montane voles (Microtus montanus), masked shrews (Sorex cinereus), and <br />least chipmunks (Tamias minimus) (Table 12). Long-taiied voles <br />(Microtus lonaicaudus) were caught only in mountain brush and bottom- <br />land. Simiarly, the western jumping mouse (ZBPUS orinceos) was cap- <br />tured in just two habitats: bottomland and sagebrush. <br />A single northern pocket gopher (Thomomvs talooides) was captured in • <br />aspen. Although not trapped 1n other habitats, pocket gopher sign <br />42 <br />