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Section 779,20 (c) Continued. <br />• 1979 it was 20.7 percent. These data support the conclusion that <br />between 1975 and 1979 the abundance of these two species appears to <br />have increased. <br />Medium Size Pfammals. 1979 Investigations. Many species of medium <br />size mammals were confirmed during the 1979 investigations on the <br />study area either through direct observation or definitive sign. <br />The predator scent-station visitation technique was designed to in- <br />ventory many of these species, however, as shown in Table 49, <br />Predator Scent-Station Visitation Data, the only mammals recorded <br />were elk and mule deer. <br />Predators, such as the coyote (Canis latrans) and red fox (Vulpes <br />vulpes), were seen during aerial surveys and, like the bobcat <br />(Felis rufus), hunt most of the habitats present within the mine <br />plan and adjacent areas. Other medium size mammals seen on the <br />mine plan area or vicinity were: Nuttall's cottontail (Sylvilagus <br />• nuttallii), snowshce hare (Lepus americanus), white-tailed jack- <br />rabbit (Lepus townsendii), yellow-bellied marmot (Pfarmota flaviventris), <br />beaver (Castor canadensis), porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), long- <br />tailed weasel (Ptustela frenata), badger (Taxidea taxus), and striped <br />skunk (Mephitus mephitus), Preferred habitats of these species are <br />listed in Table 47 Mammals that Occur or are Likely to Occur in <br />the Eckman Park Study Area. Beaver have dammed moss of the drainages <br />on the study area and appear to be activly utilizing approximately <br />10 percent of the existing ponds. The USFWS (1978) shows Foidel <br />Creek, Bear Gulch, and part of Middle Creek (below Bear Gulch) as <br />beaver habitat. Opportunistic observations of medium sized mammals <br />are shown on Twentymile Park Mammalian Observations (Map 17). <br />Small and medium sized mammalian distribution and diversity patterns <br />appeared to have changed little between 1975 and 1979. Dames and <br />Moore (1976) reported a total of 21 mammals were observed in August <br />• of 1975. Ecology Consultants documented having observed a total of <br />45 mammalian species in June of 1975. The difference in numbers <br />779-157 <br />