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6.4.8 Exhibit H -Wildlife Information <br />1973). No large stick nests typically used by bald eagles were observed during <br />on-site surveys. Therefore, it is unlikely that bald eagles nest on or the site. <br />During the winter Colorado is occupied by many bald eagles that nest further <br />north. Essential winter habitat includes communal overnight roost sites. <br />Communal roosts are trees used by several eagles at a time throughout the <br />winter. A communal roost site used by over 20 bale eagles is reported to be <br />present on Boulder Creek three or four miles downstream from the project area. <br />During the winter bald eagles feed on a wide variety of food including carrion and <br />small to medium sized birds and mammals. However, fish are still the preferred <br />food source (Steenhoff, 1978). Bald eagles wintering in Colorado are frequently <br />seen away from water particularly near prairie dog towns where they will feed on <br />prairie dogs (Andrews and Righter, 1992). Two bald eagles were observed in a <br />large cottonwood tree in the southern part of the permit area on January 15, <br />2004. This tree is outside of the area proposed for mining. ERO Resources <br />(2000a) also reported seeing a bald eagle in a large cottonwood on the site. <br />Black-footed ferrets are obligate inhabitants of prairie dog towns (USFWS, 1989). <br />Black-footed ferrets use prairie dog burrows for dens and their diet consists <br />almost entirely of prairie dogs (Fagerstone, 1987). In Colorado, the only known <br />wild black-footed ferrets are in northwestern Colorado and are the result of recent <br />reintroduction efforts (Lineer, 2004). Boulder County, which is adjacent to the <br />western edge of the project site is part of a block clearance zone for black-footed <br />ferret (Leachman; 2003). A block clearance zone is an area in which, sufficient <br />presence absence surveys have been performed that the USFWS is confident <br />the species is unlikely to occur there. <br />Black-tailed prairie dogs are present in upland habitat throughout the project site. <br />They are not present in wetland areas. The prairie dog colonies on the site are a <br />small part of a larger complex of prairie dog towns. Prairie dogs are present <br />adjacent to the site in all directions. <br />Potential Effects <br />Except for the disturbance at the low water crossing, mining activities will not <br />affect habitat in the Boulder Creek riparian corridor. The low water crossing may <br />interrupt the daily movements of some small mammals. Larger mammals and <br />birds should be able to cross it regularly. Animal movements up and down the <br />riparian corridor at dawn or dusk, or during the night should not be affected by <br />mining activity because mining will not be taking place at these times. Daytime <br />animal activities in the riparian corridor may be affected when cells 2 and 4 are <br />being mined. These affects are likely to be short term, because it is anticipated <br />that most animals will habituate to the regular activity while these cells are being <br />mined. <br />Mining will destroy prairie dog towns and the prairie dogs that occupy them. <br />Prairie dogs from adjacent areas may move back into the mined areas once <br />reclamation is complete. The loss of the prairie dogs will have some affect on <br />predators that hunt on the site. However, most of these predators have fairly <br />large home ranges. The prairie dog towns disturbed within the permit area are a <br />Turnpike Mining Resource <br />Regular 112 application <br />