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~. <br />99. <br />EY,HIBIT H - Wildlife Information <br /> <br />The discussion and table which follows is based primarily upon <br />observation of wildlife in Jefferson County by the Colorado Division of <br />Wildlife, and is considered to be representative of wildlife observed <br />or expected to occur near the mine site. Also, it should be noted that <br />the boundaries of animal communities are generally less easily defined <br />than those of plant communities (see Exhibit J). <br />The animals observed or those expected to occur near the mine <br />site have been described in Table H-1 in terms of functional groups. <br />The functional group is a somewhat arbitrary designation commonly used <br />for general discussion and is based on both taxonomy and ecology. <br />The area surrounding the affected land at the Schwartzwalder M11ine <br />provides habitat for a large variety of animals including big game, <br />• predators, raptors, small rodents and other mammals, amphibians and <br />reptiles. Some of these animals, typically small rodents, tend to <br />be dependent upon a specific type of vegetation for food, escape cover <br />and breeding grounds. Animals of this nature usually restrict themselves <br />to small territories or home ranges. On the other hand, some species or <br />groups of species are not restricted to specific vegetation types; in- <br />stead they range over large areas which may include a variety of plant <br />types. This is especially true of biy game and medium sized mammal <br />species. Some of these animals are adapted to varied conditions and <br />can live in different habitats, while others require several specific <br />vegetation types to fulfill all of their habitat requirements. Migratory <br />species are influenced by weather and other extraneous factors; and they <br />tend to move over large areas from ore veyetation type to another during <br />• the year. <br />H-1 <br />