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(i.e. diggings and dirt deposits) was evident in all habitats at Yoast • <br />except rock outcrop. Another species that was reluctant to enter <br />traps, but occurred in the Yoast area, was the golden-mantled ground <br />squirrel (SOermoohilus lateralis). This species was seen among rock <br />outcrops throughout the area and along road cuts adjacent to Grassy <br />Creek just south of the proposed permit area. <br />Rock Outcrop <br />Rock outcrop had the lowest species diversity (two species), but <br />produced the greatest number of small mammals of any habitat (38.8 per <br />100 trap nights). This undoubtedly was a function of the habitat <br />structure found along rock outcrops. Characteristically, the vegeta- <br />tion lacked diversity and was sparse. Consequently, such areas did <br />not support a large variety of mammal species. Because food was • <br />probably somewhat scarce, the animals that did occupy the rock out- <br />crops readily found and exploited the plentiful food source provided <br />at the traps. Although vegetation diversity was low, habitat attrac- <br />tiveness was increased by the prevalent cracks, crevices, and recesses <br />in sandstone outcrops. 7h abundance of protected donning habitat <br />helped support a sizeable small mammal population. Deer mice account- <br />ed for 90% of the small mammals caught in rock outcrop; least chip- <br />munks made up the rest of the captures. <br />Bottamland <br />The results from the bottomland transacts were the exact opposite <br />of those for rock outcrops. Species diversity in bottomland (six <br />species) was greater than any other habitat, but those transacts <br />yielded the fewest number of captures (19.2 per 100 trap nights). The • <br />44 <br />