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eo- <br />• ~ . The Colorado Division of Lildlife estimates GO-70 antelope <br /> utilize the proposed lease area from early summer until auv;•r~e <br /> winter caeather forces them to winter ranges northwest of tha <br /> proposed lease area. This group of antelope is a seg.oent of a <br /> herd unit estimated at ].00-150 in number and inh^bit the area <br /> bounded by Cameron Pass on the south, Highways 125 and 14 on the <br /> west, the foot of the Medicine Bow Mountains on the east and <br /> the Wyoming State line. on the north. The Colorado Division of <br /> Wildlife has designated this area as Antelope Unit AS. Antelope <br /> does and fawns were observed within the proposed lease ar.•a <br /> this past summer. The succulanl' grasses and forbs available in <br />W27 Bush Draw and Williams Draw in spring and early summer provide <br /> highly nutritious forage and may attract lactating does to tine <br /> area. The antelope depend upon the sagebrush and associated <br /> vegetation for food and cover. The vegetation portion of this <br /> report discusses in detail the vegetation complex associated <br /> with the proposed lease area. <br /> Mule deer migrate adjacent to the proposed lease area enroutc t <br /> to lower elevational winter ranges between Walden and Cowcln.y. ~~ <br /> Some deer winter on the south facing ridges and s]opes we::t of. <br /> the lease area. <br /> <br />4 . <br /> <br />Elk are not known to use the proposed lease area, but have <br />t <br />4 been observed north in the McCallum oil field in past winters. <br />I <br />• ~ .Precise small mammal and songbird data are lacking for the <br /> proposed lease area. Those species listed in the North Yark <br />jl URA associated with the sagebrush ecosystem can be expected to <br />~~ <br />~ inhabit the lease area. The species of songbird and small <br /> mammals listed above are known to inhabit the proposed lease <br /> site and adjacent, similar habitat; however, biological factors <br />1 such as population.numbere, distribution, habitat requirements, <br />_-,~ etc., for these species are unknown at this time. <br />11 The raptors listed above, excepting the bald eagle and peregrine <br />~i falcon, are common users of the proposed lease area. Hunlin~ <br />11 for prey food species is considered the most important rapCor <br />~~ use of the area. Prey species available for raptors in t:l~e <br />ji study area include those small birds and mammals in the above <br />~ <br />I ~~ list. Isolated patches of quacking aspen located northwest of <br />~ <br />~ the lease area rovide <br />p perching, roosting, and nesting 11aiJ] Cat <br />~ for raptors. An active go]den eagle nest located one mile <br />i northwest of the study area produced two eagles during the 1979 <br />~ nesting season. Prairie falcons, kestrels, marsh hacalcs, reel- <br /> tailed hawks and Swainson's hawks are commonly observed lu mtin <br /> in the proposed lease area. Nests of these species have not <br /> been located within the proposed lease area. <br />• <br />16 <br /> <br />