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Lorencito Canyon Mine -Wildlife 7echnica( ReOOrt <br />• Furbearers/Predators <br />Black bears also occur within the permit area. The CDOW has identified the entire permit area <br />as black bear overall range and fall concentration range. The definition of overall range is the <br />same as for elk and deer. Fall concentration ranges aze those areas that are occupied from August <br />15 through September 30 for the purpose of ingesting large quantities of mast and berries to <br />establish fat reserves for the winter hibernation period (CDOW, 1996f). The stands of Gambel's <br />oak and servicebetry provide the nut and berry species needed for bears to survive the winter <br />denning period and for the production of young. Two bears were observed in Bonita Canyon <br />during the breeding bird surveys. Also bear sign was observed throughout the permit area. <br />Mountain lions are also known to occur within the permit area. Although no lions were directly <br />observed, tracks were identified on the road between Puertecito and Alamosa Canyons in February <br />1996. <br />Coyotes were observed throughout the permit area. One coyote was observed during the aerial <br />surveys in Cow Canyon. In addition, tracks and scat were observed throughout the area and <br />coyotes were heard vocalizing in Cow Canyon during the breeding bird surveys. <br />Other furbearers/predators observed or potentially occurring within the permit area include <br />• bobcats, badgers, fox, beaver, striped skunk, raccoon, and long-tailed weasel. Beavers were <br />restricted to riparian habitats at the upper portion of Lorencito Creek within Lorencito Canyon. <br />In addition, the CDOW has identified beaver overall range on the Purgatorie River on the northern <br />boundary of the property. <br />The general lack of observations of species from these other wildlife groups was not unexpected. <br />These species are considered minor components of the wildlife resource in the permit area because <br />suitable habitat for species such as waterfowl and shorebirds was limited. For example, little open <br />water is present in the permit azea. Consequently, habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds was very <br />limited. Also, most predators are secretive by nature and are most active at night. Therefore, <br />these species are difficult to observe. <br /> <br />Wildlife 475/Decembcr 13. 1996 21 <br />