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10. Wildlife Primary big game animals found in the proposed area include mule deer and elk. Small game animals include sage grouse, blue grouse, sharptail grouse, cottontail rabbit, and jackrabbit. Other species present in the proposed azea include yellow- bellied marmots, chipmunks, deer mice, coyote, bobcat, mountain lion, and long tailed weasels. Small seed eating birds include Rufus sided towhees, green tailed towhees, chipping sparrow, and Oregon junco. Predatory birds include the mazsh hawk and red tailed hawk. From time to time, bald eagles and golden eagles aze also observed. Scavenging birds include the black-billed magpie and turkey vulture. Reptiles that may be present include the eastern fence lizard, sagebrush lizard, side blotched lizard, gopher snake, and western prairie rattlesnake. There are no rare, threatened, or endangered species known to be present in the proposed area. There are no fish species present in the proposed azea. Both the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been previously consulted and have provided input for fish and wildlife issues. This information has been provided to the Division previously. 11. Threatened and Endangered (T&E) Species The proposed exploration area encompasses a portion of the larger Danforth Hills region of northwest Colorado. Extensive areas of mountain shrub/sagebrush vegetation types and, to a much lesser degree, aspen, juniper woodlands, and grassland vegetation types chazacterize the Danforth Hills region. A number of the Danforth Hills projects containing examples of these vegetation types have received considerable environmental analysis. Many of these projects aze located adjacent to or in the general vicinity of the proposed project. During the preparation of these studies, the analysis of T&E species has received considerable scrutiny. A review of these studies (listed below) indicates little specific occurrence or major concerns regarding T&E species within these project areas. As such, with the results of these studies in mind, we anticipate that within the similar habitats found in the proposed exploration azea, there will be no significant occurrence of T&E species. Therefore, no T&E species existence will be in jeopardy due to the limited amount of surface disturbance anticipated in this project proposal. N:\000_ENGVUAN\DMG\NOI DOC\06N01\06 N07 TexLdoc wmros