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LJ rt`J EXISTING ENVIRONMENT country north of the Highline Canal. In recent years, the population has been stable; present popu- lation is estimated at 35 to 50 animals. Current distribution is shown on map 52-3. ELK In recent years, several small groups of elk have ~ spent the winter in the upper reaches of East Salt `Y Creek. Occurrence of elk to this area is sporadic, • `? and the number of animals is very small. ~~MOUNTAIN LION The Little Bookcliffs support one of the highest populations of mountain lion in western Colorado. The DOW estimates that Game Management Unit ~301sec'Recreation) supports a population of ap- oxtmatel' 40 lions. Occupied habitat (shown on ap 52-3) corresponds to mule deer habitat, and e ovements of mule deer influence lion distrtbutton. The coniferous and riparian vegeta- tion, mule deer populations, and rough broken to- pography provide the essential habitat components of cover, food, and isolated living space preferred by mountain lions. BLACK BEAR Black bear are found above 7,000 feet in the riparian, aspen, and coniferous types. During the spring and fall, black bear occasionally venture into [he pinyon-juniper habitat type below 7,000 feet in search of food. The upper (northern) portions of Sheridan's lease is occupied black bear habitat (map 52-3). Small Mammals Mammal species present are typical of the salt- bush, sagebrush, mountain shrub, and pinyon-juni- per habitat types in western Colorado. Species common within the Little Bookcliffs include cot- tontail rabbit, rock squirrel, deer mouse, white- tailed antelope squirrel, coyote, and bobcat. On the desert between the Little Bookcliffs and the High- line Canal, white-tailed prairie dog colonies are common. Locations of [owns and numbers of bur- rows can be found in prairie dog inventories on file in the Grand Junction District Office of the BLM. Game Birds Mourning doves are the most common game birds occurring throughout the Little Bookcliffs area. Doves arrive in the spring, nest through the summer months, and begin migrating to the south by late August. Chukar, a species introduced in the 1950s, has become established throughout the lower canyons and rocky slopes of the Little Bookcliffs. During the summer, birds are concentrated within 1 or 2 933 $HERIDAN 2 miles of areas with available water; at other times of the year, the birds are widely dispersed. Blue grouse are found at higher elevations in [he Little Bookcliffs. They utilize mountain shrub, aspen, and spruce-fir habitat types. Within the agri- cultural areas, pheasant and gambel quail have been introduced. Waterfowl utilize the Colorado River, farm ponds, and several nearby larger reservoirs for nesting. During the spring and fall, large numbers oftnigrating birds can be found nesting and feeding on practically all water bodies in the area. Agricul- tural lands provide food for mallards and Canadian geese through the winter. The Colorado River and Highline Lake are primary waterfowl resting areas through the winter, particularly after smaller water bodies have frozen up. Other Birds A raptor inventory conducted in 1977 identified seven active and three suspected golden eagle aeries and eight active and six suspected prairie falcon aeries on the main face of the Little Book- cliffs from the Colorado state line to DeBeque Canyon (Enderson 1977). The sheer faces of the Little Bookcliffs and the large expanse of open country between the base of the cliffs and the Highline Canal provide some of the most produc- tive nesting and hunting habitat for these two spe- cies in western Colorado (see map S2-3.). A wide variety of nongame birds occurs throughout the various habitat types and seasons. During spring migration, greater sandhill cranes pass through western Colorado. Cranes have been observed stopping over in [he vicinity of Highline Lake and along East Salt Wash in the open desert area. East Salt Creek is a focal point of wildlife activi- ty during much of the year on the desert area between the Highline Canal and the Little Book- cliffs. Although East Salt Creek is not a perennial stream, water is often available along the wash after other waterholes on the desert have dried uo. The cot[dnwood trees and limited amount of other ri anon ve anon rovide uni ue a rtat that at- tracts many small birds and mamma s. Amphibians and Reptiles Common amphibians, such as Rocky Mountain toad, the red-backed toad, and the leopard frog, and common reptiles, such as the collared lizard, the sagebrush lizard, the gopher snake, and the wandering garter snake, have been found within the Grand Valley (Thorne Ecological institute 1976). A subspecies of the prairie rattlesnake, the midge[-faded rattlesnake, is worth mentioning be- cause of its apparent rarity in the region. Although