Laserfiche WebLink
<br />deer and 3.0 meters minimum for elk and moose. The Deserado <br />Mine conveyor was elevated to a maximum of 0.9 meters <br />clearance. Photograph 3 shows mule deer passage beneath the <br />conveyor system. Mule deer observed during this event, <br />would drop forward while lowering their neck and head and <br />pass under the belt line in a forward plunging motion. This <br />passage was usually very quickly executed without reducing <br />the animals gait from the initial approach of the structure. <br />Little evidence of mule deer or antelope drag marks were <br />present during the study. Elk cows, calves, and immature <br />spike bulls would follow a similar method of passage under <br />the belt Drag marks were more frequently observed on elk <br />passage under the belt. The underside of the conveyor belt <br />also could be raised approximately 5 cm when the animals <br />back would brush underneath the belt, thereby allowing some <br />additional clearance. Elk, antelope, and mule deer were all <br />viewed passing under the conveyor while the belt was <br />active. In one case, a small tuft of dorsal hair was <br />brushed from the animal's back while crossing beneath the <br />moving conveyor belt. The mule deer appeared unharmed and <br />continued through the structure. Photograph 3 shows a adult <br />female mule deer crossing beneath the conveyor structure. <br />No beltline mortalities of any big game animals or other <br />wildlife species have ever been found since the beginning of <br />operations at the mine. <br />Hig game animal passage data can be found in Table 5. <br />This table includes direction of travel per species counted. <br />68 percent of all elk tracks counted were heading in an <br />easterly direction of travel. Elk migration patterns may be <br />reflected in the preference for easterly travel verses <br />passage in a westerly direction. <br />Mule deer were for the most part evenly distributed in <br />direction of travel with a total of 41.9 percent easterly <br />verses a 58.1 percent westerly passage. Pronghorn antelope <br />travel were recorded as follows - 35.3 percent towards the <br />east verses 64.7 percent moving towards the west. This <br />data may reflect migration events between winter and summer <br />ranges which showed a preference of passage toward the west <br />for pronghorn. <br />Predator direction of travel data had sample sizes that <br />were too small to determine any preference in travel <br />direction. Data presented indicates that big games animals <br />migrate across the conveyor structure in both directions, as <br />anticipated. Figure 3 illustrates the distribution of <br />animal passage over the study period. This data shows good <br />distribution of animal passage with the exception of two <br />areas where Beltline Transfer Buildings (TS-1 and TS-2) are <br />located. The highest number of track count passage occurred <br />in an area between the refuse haul road and railroad loadout <br />building, where the least amount of disturbance occurs from <br />mine workers and machinery. Topography of this site <br />