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eh <br />ESPEY, HUSTON 8 ASSOCIATES. INC. <br />• <br />2.2 MAMMALS <br />Three techniques were used to quantify mammal distribution and popula- <br />tion dynamics on the mine plan azea. A fourth technique involved opportunistic <br />observation of specific animals in the mine plan and adjacent azeas. <br />2.2.1 Flushing Transects <br />Six flushing transects, each 1 kilometer in length, were placed in four <br />vegetation communities and one ecotonal azea. Each transect was walked within a <br />period starting 2.5 hours prior to sunset and ending 0.5 hours after sunset for three <br />consecutive evenings. Information recorded included time, approximate weather <br />conditions, identification of species, number of mammals observed, their per- <br />pendiculaz distance from the transect line, their behavior and their location in the <br />vegetation community. <br />• <br />Abundance was calculated by dividing the number of individuals observed <br />on a transect by the number of kilometers walked and was expressed as no./kilo- <br />meter. The sagebrush-grass transect and the meadow transect were relocated in <br />July due to a drill rig positioned on the sage transect and a property dispute on a <br />section of the original meadow transect. From July through September, a diversion <br />ditch was being built on the ecotonal transect. By December this transect ao longer <br />existed, hence it was not sampled. The mountain shrub 1 transect above the Rienau <br />No. 2 (G-Seam) Mine portal was not sampled during December since it was virtually <br />inaccessible due to deep snow and steep slope. <br />2.2.2 Grid and Transect Rodent Trapping <br />In May, small grids using 7.6-x 7.6-x 25.4-centimeter Sherman live traps <br />were set on or near each flushing transect. Twenty-five traps were used in each <br />grid, with each trap set 15 meters apazt in a five x five array covering <br />• <br />L-6 <br />