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• *!ule deer are found within the proposed mine plan area and adjacent areas in all seasons of the year. The}• principally utilize the mountain shrub and sage-grass communities. Of the vegetation types, the mountain shrub communi[:• • in the easterr. portion of the proposed nine plan area anc! upper elevations of the western portion receive the most use. Deer use is less during summer months than winter, months as many mule deer leave the mine plan area for summer ranges in Routt National Forest to the east of the: Trapper Mine. The mine plan area is considered both important winter range and critical winter range by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Fawning does occur within the mine plan area, although an estimate as to the: amount of this activity is not available. E14: are common residents of the mine plan area in the lace fall, winter and early spring. These el}: typically spend the summers in the upper reaches of the 4illiams Fork Mountains and in the Routt and Sdhite R:[ver National Forests. The western portion of the Williams Fork Mountains, including the proposed mine plan area, is considered critical winter range for elk. b}• the USFWS. The USFIdS has also indicated the eastern portion of the mine plan area might be used by elk for calving. Sage grouse are occasionally observed within the mine plan area in sagebrush and mountain shrub communities, Sharp-[ailed grouse are resident within the mine plan area preferring habitats of mountain shrub int~=_rspersed with grassy area. A 197? study estimated a 100 bird population within the mine plan area. Five dancing grounds, ancestral locations where male sharp-tails gather to display and attract females each spring, are known in Moffat County south of Craig. Four of the areas are considered distances from the mining area, but the "Wingate Dancing Ground" was located within the mine plan area. St has been destroyed by past construction activities. The USF1dS has indicated • there is blue grouse habitat in the southeast portion of the proposed mine plan area, but only one sighting of this species was made in 1979. The golden eagle which receives the same protection as the bald eagle under [he Bald Eagle Protection Act, was sighted during the raptor survey. An active nest and two nearby inactive nests were discovered in the northeast corner of the mine plan area during the survey. None of them are located within the area proposed for disturbance during the 5-year permit term. -6- •