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6.4.8 Exhibit H -Wildlife Information <br />Wildlife Habitat Characteristics <br />Wildlife habitat types in and near the area to be mined include cropland, the Big <br />Thompson River riparian corridor, and a small black-tailed prairie dog town. The <br />area to be mined is currently used for growing corn and wheat. During the late <br />spring, summer and early fall when cover is present, corn and wheat fields <br />provide good cover and feeding opportunities for a variety of mammals and birds <br />such as ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). <br />Common Species in the Area <br />The riparian corridor is outside the area to be mined. Large cottonwood trees <br />(Populus deltoides) present in the riparian corridor provide potential nesting <br />habitat for hawks, owls, and tree nesting songbirds. Ared-tailed hawk nest is <br />present in a tree on the south side of the river north of the proposed east pit. The <br />riparian corridor adjacent to the east pit provides habitat for a variety of small and <br />medium sized mammals including deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), <br />eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), and striped <br />skunk (Mephitis mephitis). The riparian corridor adjacent to the west pit is <br />heavily grazed and cover is sparse. This area provides potential habitat for some <br />species, that prefer areas with less cover, such as horned lark (Eremophila <br />alpestris). <br />There is a small black-tailed prairie dog colony present just north of the west pit. <br />Black-tailed prairie dog burrows are used by a number of other species such as <br />burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), American badger (Taxidea taxus), and prairie <br />rattlesnake (Crotralus viridis). <br />Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species <br />Two species listed as threatened and one listed as endangered, by the U.S. Fish <br />and Wildlife Service (USFWS) potentially use the proposed permit area. Bald <br />eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) are listed as threatened. They nest in large <br />trees overlooking large bodies of water that provide fish, their preferred food <br />source (Snow, 1973). Important winter habitat includes communal roost sites. <br />Communal roost sites are used by several bald eagles on a nightly basis during <br />the winter (Steenhoff, 1978). Roost sites are usually large trees located in areas <br />protected from wind (Steenhoff, 1978). A bald eagle nest is present on the Big <br />Thompson River a few miles downstream of the proposed Bokelman/Walters pit <br />(Bibles, 2004). Additionally, several bald eagles winter in the Loveland area and <br />are reported to fly up and down the Big Thompson River (Morgan, 2004). Large <br />trees adjacent to the Big Thompson River on and near the proposed mine are <br />potential bald eagle communal roost sites. However, no communal roost sites <br />have been reported near the proposed Bokelman/Walters pit (Bibles, 2004). Bald <br />eagles probably hunt over the proposed permit area throughout the year. <br />Additionally, the mature cottonwoods located in the Big Thompson River riparian <br />corridor, in and near the proposed permit area, are potential bald eagle perch <br />sites. <br />February Z0, Z006 Bokelman/Walters Pit <br />Page 19 of 36 Regular 112 Permit Application <br />