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H-24 • habitat areas (sagebrush and chained pinyon-juniper) over wooded or dense sagebrush habitats (pinyon-juniper or greasewood-sagebrush). This is probably due to the fact that better quality forage exists in the sagebrush and chained pinyon-juniper habitat types. Carnivores Results of the study conducted on the sodium lease from 1980-1981, indicated that six species of mammalian carnivores inhabit the area. These species inclLlde coyote, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, badger, striped skunk, and bobcat. Of these, the coyote appears to have the highest population. Six additional species have been reported to occur in the vicinity: raccoon, ringtail, r•ed fox, ermine, black bear, and mountain lion {BLM 1984b). These species may not be present on the sodium lease tracts because of a lack of suitable habitat, or they may be present in such low numbers that they were not detected (LGL 1981). Recent information obtained for the Bastin suggests that these species are present in such low numbers that ordinary detection methods are not adequate. BLM (1984b) reported that mountain lions are distributed throughout the entire Basin and prefer areas of dense mountain shrub, or pinyon- . juniper cover on rocky, rugged terrain. A current population of only 15 animals is estimated for the entire Basin and that population is currently exhibiting a downward trend. BLM (1984b) also reported that black bear habitat of adequate quality is scarce in the Piceance Basin. One siting of a black bear was made along Yellow Creek in 1981 (Clark 1984). It is estimated that about 10 to 20 bears inhabit the region, and that the population is currently stable. • THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS TRADE SECRETS AND PRIVILEGE D,CONFIDENTIAL AND K -- INFORMATION. PURSUANT TO LAW,THOSE PORTIONS MgRKED"CONFIDENTIAL" PMAYRNOT BE DISCLOKED COPIED ORIMADE AVAI LIABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.AN~oo" ~ OI ~ , ~