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• Deer occur throughout the year with numbers increasing in the winter and decreasing <br />during the summer.33 <br />A. Game Species <br />Deer, both white-tailed and mule, are present in the Weld County area. Due to <br />the scarcity of suitable habitat, however, deer populations are low. Generally, the <br />white-tail species is dependent on the Flood plain communities for food and cover <br />throughout the year, while the mule deer uses the flood plain communities for <br />food and cover more frequently during periods of inclement winter weather. <br />There is probably a greater abundance ofwhite-tailed deer within the area than <br />would be expected at other points along the river due to the transplantation of a <br />population of these animals from Oklahoma to areas of eastern Weld and Morgan <br />counties. However, mule deer remain as the dominant species. Only a few deer <br />and antelope are thought to inhabit the project site-- probably farther to the west <br />near Box Elder Creek as more water and shelter are available. No herds have <br />been observed. <br />Cottontail rabbits are common throughout the area, but their population densities <br />are greatest in the river bottom locations. The association of river bottom timber <br />and brush with adjacent small grain and cornfields provides good production and <br />survival cover. The cotton-tails are represented by the eastern (Swilagus <br />floridanus) and the desert (S. aubudonii) cottontails. In addition, two species of <br />jack-rabbits inhabit the area. These include the blacktailed (Lepus californicus) <br />and the white-tailed (L. townsendii). <br />Fox squirrels are restricted to the flood plain and areas of deciduous trees. None <br />were observed on the project site, although some exist in the neighboring towns <br />of Keenesburg and Roggen. <br />Of the listed community associations, the Prairie community is the predominant <br />vegetative community in the proposed mine site azea. <br />Waterfowl in large flocks use the South Platte River flood plains as a resting point <br />during the winter months. These flocks feed in the irrigated and dryland <br />cornfields just outside of the flood plain. Most of the waterfowl observed in the <br />area are Flushed from small ponds formed by old stream meanders or from the <br />main river channel. Waterfowl are evenly distributed throughout the area with <br />little variation noted between vegetative communities. Due to the lack of surface <br />water and proper food, the waterfowl observed in the area were those in flight <br />during their yearly migration. <br />• "Narrows Unit, Il, 38. <br />94 <br />