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6.4.8 Exhibit H -Wildlife Information <br />their life necessities (USFWS, 2000). Black-tailed prairie dogs provide a prey <br />base for a variety of predators including red-tailed hawk, Swainson's hawk <br />(euteo swainsonr), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), bald eagle, red fox (Vulpes <br />vulpes), and coyote (Canis latrans). Black-tailed prairie dog burrows create <br />potential nest and den sites for a number of other species including burrowing <br />owl (Athene cunicularia) and several snake species. Black-tailed prairie dog <br />grazing activities reduce the cover within the prairie dog colony and create <br />suitable habitat for species like horned lark (Eremophila alpestris) that prefer less <br />cover. <br />Trees on and near the site provide potential nest and perch sites for raptors <br />including red-tailed hawk, Swainson's hawk, golden eagle, bald eagle, and great <br />horned owl (Bubo virginianus). Red-tailed hawks and bald eagles were perched <br />in trees within the permit area during a January 2004 site reconnaissance. No <br />raptor nests were observed in trees within the area to be mined. Trees also <br />provide habitat for a variety of species that might not otherwise occur in the area. <br />These include black-billed magpie (Pica pica), American robin (Turdus <br />migratorius), northern flicker (Co/aptes auritus), Bullock's oriole (Icterus bullocki~) <br />and Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger). <br />Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species <br />Three species listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service (USFWS) and one candidate for listing potentially occur on or near the <br />site. The listed species include two threatened species, Preble's meadow <br />jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius prebler~ and bald eagle and one endangered <br />species, black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). The candidate for listing is the <br />black-tailed prairie dog. A candidate for listing is a species for which the USFWS <br />has concluded that listing is warranted. However, listing activities for the species <br />are precluded by other, higher priority listing activities. The USFWS reviews this <br />decision annually. Candidate species have no formal protection under the <br />Endangered Species Act. However, they are of concern because they could <br />potentially be proposed for listing prior to the start of mining. <br />Preble's meadow jumping mouse (PMJM) occupies dense herbaceous <br />vegetation, usually with a shrub andlor tree overstory in riparian areas, and is <br />known to feed in upland areas up to 300 m from the riparian habitat. Potentially <br />suitable PMJM habitat is present along Boulder Creek and at some of the <br />wetlands on the site. ERO Resources (2000b) conducted a PMJM <br />presence/absence study in June 2000. No PMJM were found. Based on the <br />survey ERO Resources (2000b) concluded that PMJM are unlikely to occur on <br />the project site. The USFWS concurred with ERO Resources' (2000b) findings <br />and agreed that PMJM are unlikely to occur there (Carlson, 2000). The USFWS <br />also concluded that "development or other actions on this site should not directly <br />affect the continued existence of Preble's" (Carlson, 2000). <br />Bald eagles nest in large trees, usually near a large body of water that provides a <br />source of fish, the species main food source (Snow, 1973). They tend to return <br />to the same nest site year after year adding on to the nest each year (Snow, <br />Turnpike Mining Resource <br />Regular 112 application <br />