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<br />is relatively sma11 and pmbabiy wuld not support over one pair of water- <br />fowl in a given year, ho waterfowl nests or broods were located on the <br />study area in 1979, Due to tine lack of waterfowl and riparian areas, the <br />stuciy area cannot be considered good waterfowl habitat. The largest perennial <br />water body harboring waterfowl populations near the study area is the Miguel <br />River, approximately six miles southwest of the :lucla mine. <br />BIG GAhIE STUDIES <br />Mule deer is the only resident big game species on the study area. ELk may <br />rarely occur on i~abitats near tine study area but rune have been reported on <br />the study area to date (personal corcrmuucation, March 1980, Rich Sherman, <br />DOW). E]lc were sighted in apinyon-juniper area approximately two miles <br />north and east of the study area during the winter, 1978 (personal comrnutication, <br />May 1979, Mr. Fritz tiylund, local resident; personal cormwiication, May 1979, <br />Mrs. Francis Fort, local resident). I-iwever, winter habitat for elk proving <br />• down from the mountains to the north and east is considered marginal by the <br />DGW (personal connninication, A;arch 1980, Rich Sherman, DCW). <br />Mule deer are year-round residents of habitats in the vicinity of Nucla mine <br />and are oon[ron in pinyon-juniper woodlands east of the study area. Mule deer <br />were heavily concentrated in t`rese woodlands during the winter, 1980. Only <br />three mule deer were observed in the vicinity of the study area during 1979- <br />1980 investigations (,Sap 11-2, Appendix A) although tracks and droppings were <br />frequently en~untered on the eastern boundary of the permu t area. Popula- <br />tion esticrates are not available, however (personal corziwtication, .;arch 1980, <br />Rich Sherman, DOW). Good mule deer habitat does not exist on the study area; <br />the habitat immediately surrounaing the study area is considered only <br />marginal. <br />MAhP1AT,IAN PRIDATORS <br />The scent-station visitation tr-.;unique (Linhart and Krwwlton 1973) was used <br />. to determine the presence and relative abundance or ~,-malign predators <br />-SO- <br />JUN 1 1 1990 <br />