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• A record was kept of all birds observed during the site surveys. No attempt <br />was made to quantify numbers observed at each location. A total of 33 <br />different bird species were observed during the surveys and during travel to <br />and from sites. All species identified and location where observed are <br />included in Table 1. In instances where drill sites are located immediately <br />adjacent to an existing road, data were kept only for the site. In those <br />instances where there were access roads, observations along the road are <br />recorded under the drill site. <br />Unless there were observations of a specific nature, big game including deer, <br />elk and bears are not discussed for each site. There was evidence of deer <br />and elk activity at or near all proposed roads and drill sites and both species <br />were observed on occasion. The amount of activity was about what would <br />be expected in this area given the vegetation communities and topography. <br />No bears were observed, but there was considerable evidence (tracks and <br />scat) of bear activity throughout the area. There is considerable habitat <br />available for these three species and the small amount of habitat to be <br />disturbed during exploration would not affect their activities in the area. <br />• GENERAL OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING T & E, SENSITIVE AND <br />MANAGEMENT INDICATOR SPECIES <br />In reviewing the list of species and their habitat requirements provided by <br />the USFS the conclusion can be drawn that habitat for most of these species <br />is lacking, very limited or of poor quality at, and around, all proposed drill <br />sites and access roads. <br />Two ground dwelling mammals are listed by the United States Fish and <br />Wildlife Service (USFWS). These are the Canada lynx and black footed <br />ferret. In the general vicinity there is a small amount of potentially suitable <br />denning and other habitat for lynx. The USFS has mapped areas near sites <br />CCC, DDD, EEE and FFF as potential denning habitat. These areas were <br />surveyed during raptor nest surveys in May. Sites CCC, EEE and FFF are <br />located over ridges several hundred yards from the potential habitat. The <br />area near site DDD can be seen from the site, but did not appear to provide <br />suitable denning conditions. Within the study area "other potential lynx <br />habitat" has been delineated by the USFS. By definition this means that it is <br />• not considered denning or winter foraging habitat, but could be used by <br />lynx. These areas are found within a few hundred yards of all sites. <br />2 <br />