PERMFILE122428

• Permit No: M1997054
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Section_Exhibit Name: EXHIBIT H - WILDLIFE INFORMATION
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Pazkdale Protect • 3 • Reclamation Permit
support a self sustaining trout fishery (Finch, pers. comm. 1947). Based on the habitat
conditions observed for Tallahassee Creek within the permit area, trout would only use
this portion of the creek for seasonal movement to and from the Arkansas River and
fisheries habitat upstream of the permit area in Tallahassee, Cottonwood, and Kern
creeks. The permit area portion of Taliahassee Creek could not support ayear-round
fishery.
Big Game
Mule deer, bighorn sheep, black bear, and mountain lion are the only big game animals
likely to be found in the permit area. Field surveys documented the presence of mule
deer. As indicated previously, mule deer pellets were relatively common on the
pinoNjuniper slopes north of Tallahassee Creek. Four mule deer does were also noted
crossing Tallahassee Creek near the proposed stream crossing area for the granite quarry
site.
Mule deer are distributed statewide in ali ecosystems in Colorado. They are most
abundant in shrublands in rough, broken terrain where abundant food and cover are
provided (Fitzgerald et al. 1994). Mule deer populations within the permit area region
exhibit seasonal movement with most shifts in distribution occurring as a result of
elevational migration in response to snow cover. The permit area is used primarily as
winter and early spring range by mule deer (Finch, pers. comm. 1997). The largest
numbers of mule deer occur in the permit area doting spring green-up when mule deer
move down from nearby pinoNjuniper slopes to feed on newsy emerged herbaceous
vegetation in grassland and pinoNjuniper/grassland habitats (Finch, pers. comm. 1997).
During the summer most deer move to higher elevation habitats, although some deer use
of the permit area is likely to occur an a year-round basis.
Populations of bighorn sheep are widely scattered throughout the mountains and foothills
of Colorado. Preferred habitat is provided in areas dominated by rock cover, grass, and
shrubs in close proximity to open escape terrain and topographic relief (Fitzgerald et al.
1994). Herds in Colorado typically migrate between higher elevation summer ranges and
lower elevation winter ranges (Fitzgerald et al. 1994). A population of bighorn sheep
inhabits the rugged terrain of the Arkansas River canyon west of the permit area (Finch,
pers. comm. 1997). Like mule deer, bighorn sheep in early spring move down the
rugged slopes into grassland and pinoNjuniper grassland habitats in the western portion
of the permit area to feed on newly emerged herbaceous vegetation (Finch, pers. comm.
1997).
Prime black bear habitat is characterized by relatively inaccessible terrain, thick
understory vegetation, and abundant sources of shrub or tree borne soft or hard mast
(Pelson ]982). Bears occur throughout the mountainous portions of Colorado but are
most common at low to moderate elevations that support stands of oak brush and berry
producing shrubs (Fitzgerald et al. 1994}. The permit area may represent a portion of
black bear range, but black bears are not likely to be common in the area because of the
general lack of preferred food sources.