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Section 779,2p (c) Continued. <br />• Medium Sized Mammals. In the spring of 1979, the scent-station <br />visitation technique was employed to inventory mammalian predators <br />and other medium sized mammals. A small perforated plastic capsule <br />supported on a thin wire four to five centimeters above the ground <br />was placed in the center of a one meter diameter circle of sifted <br />or moist soil. Capsules were filled with a synthetic (amino acid) <br />attractant. Five scent attractant stations were established along <br />each small mammal trap line. The stations were operated concurrently <br />with small mammal trapping (Twentymile Park Mammalian Observations <br />(Map 17 )). Each morning tracks present were identified, soil at <br />disturbed stations was resifted, and missing or destroyed capsules <br />were replaced. Additionallly, predators and other medium sized <br />mammals noted during aerial surveys and all other field activities <br />were recorded and noted as to species and location. <br />Large Mammals. Prior to field studies and as part of the coordina- <br />• tion with state and federal agencies, the BLM and CDOW were con- <br />tacted to obtain existing wildlife information concerning the mine <br />plan and adjacent areas. Very little site-specific information was <br />available; however, certain known elk calving grounds were identi- <br />fied, and data from past aerial surveys (broad region) were obtained <br />(Hicks, 1979; Conley, 1979, Ellenberger, 1979). t4ost of the existing <br />information was obtained from the CDOW 1040 mapping system. Also, <br />a literature review was done to identify potential impacts to elk <br />as a result of coal mining; particularly the effects on elk calving <br />grounds. Other sources of general wildlife information consulted <br />were: Dames and Moore (1975), U. S. Fish and 4ildlife Service <br />(1978), and U. S. Department of the Interior (1976). Aerial surveys <br />were conducted at sunrise on two mornings within each of the months <br />of February, March, and April of 1979 and on one morning in early <br />June, 1979; the specific dates were: February 19 and 20, 1979; <br />March 16 and 24, 1979; April 13 and 24, 1979; and June 11, 1979. <br />February and March flights were flown to determine general winter <br />• distribution and abundance of elk and deer on and within one mile <br />779-137 <br />