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area. The familiar striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the most . i <br />likely species involved; however, Yoast is within the range of <br />the less well-known western spotted skunk (SOilogale gracilis) <br />(Godin 1982). <br />Weasel-like scats were occasionally observed along roads and <br />trails on the Yoast permit area. In winter, the characteristic <br />twin prints of both medium and small-sized mustelids were seen in <br />deep snow. The larger tracks could have been those of mink <br />(Mustela vison) or possibly marten (Mattes americana), although <br />martens are generally associated with coniferous habitat <br />(Zeveloff and Collett 1988). The smaller tracks were likely made <br />by either long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata) or short-tailed <br />weasels (Mustela erminea). <br />Snow cover also revealed tracks of snowshoe hares (Le us <br />americanus) in mountain brush habitat in the higher central part <br />of the permit area. The somewhat larger white-tailed jackrabbit <br />(Lepus townsendii) also inhabits this region, but seeks out open <br />habitats even when it occurs in mountainous terrain (Braun and <br />Streeter 1968). <br />REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS <br />Appendix 11-1 contains a list of herptiles that could • <br />potentially occur or were detected in the study area. Three <br />species were detected during baseline studies: tiger salamander <br />(Ambystoma tigrinum) in sagebrush, mountain brush, and aspen <br />habitat; boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris triseriata maculata) in <br />bottomland habitat; and wandering garter snake (Thamnophis <br />elegans vagrans) in mountain brush habitat. The federal <br />candidate boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreas) is not expected in or <br />near the Yoast permit area due to lack of suitable habitat. <br />SPECIES OF HIGH FEDERAL AND STATE INTEREST <br />This discussion includes all bird and mammal species <br />federally listed as threatened or endangered, or candidates for <br />federal listing; also those listed by the state of Colorado as <br />threatened or endangered, or of special interest. Table 13 shows <br />each species known or expected to occur in the vicinity of <br />Hayden, Colorado and its category of recognition. Also given are <br />the potential habitat suitability, and occurrence probability on <br />or near the proposed Yoast permit area. <br />Four of the species listed in Table 13 were observed on or <br />near the Yoast permit area. Two of these--the Columbian sharp- <br />tailed <br />• <br />48 Revised 06/18/95 <br />