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.__--- <br />L, in the Nucla study area (Map 11-2, Appendix A). Rn extensive burrow by <br />burrow searc*~ for black-footed ferrets and their sign (e. g . , trenching <br />and scats) was conducted in late May, 1979. A total of 123 burrows encom- <br />passing approximately 16 acres were systeratically searc:.ed. tYO black- <br />footed ferrets or their sign were observed on the study area. <br />The gray wolf formerly occurred over much of the United States. Due to <br />widespread habitat destruction and human harassment, the gray half in <br />Colorado is limited to a fea captive individuals WW1, n.d.). No gray <br />wolves have ir_~en reported in this area of Colorado. <br />A number o£ whooping cranes have been hatched and raised by sanalvill crane <br />foster parents in USFWS experimental program at Gray's Lake :vational Wild- <br />life Refuge, southeast Idaho. This is an ongoing program at Gray's Lake <br />and the USfWS placed approximately 20 whooping crane eggs in sandhill <br />crane nests in the spring of 1979; 6 have survived to date (personal oonzct- <br />unication, 1979, Mr. Philip Lehenbauer, USEWS). Since sorie of the whooping <br />-_ cranes raised in this experimental program have remained associated with <br />their foster iarents, suitable habitat within the range of greater c~n~h~ll <br />cranes must also be considered potential whooping crane summer habitat. <br />Although m greater sandhill crane habitat exists on the Nucla study area, <br />the Miguel River Valley about 8 miles west of the study area may be used for <br />migration. However, to date, no whooping cranes have been reported with <br />greater sanahill cranes in this area of Colorado. <br />IA9PORTAN'1 WLiDL1FE HABTTAT <br />For the purposes of this study, imq~ortant wildlife habitat can be defined <br />by th0 criteria: habitat critical to the support of ing~ortant wildlife <br />species (i.e., threatened or endangered animals or other vertebrates prot- <br />ected by state or federal law and certain game anmals) and habitats <br />offering both environmental and veyetarive situations which contribute <br />to maxi,~unn wildlife diversity for the rcc;ion.. 2".~e smile deer and the rirc- <br />t ~ necked pheasant are the only i~~ort -u'it s~^ies that occur r~~r the study <br />-49- <br />u <br />JUN ~ 1 1980 <br />(Revised July 2006) Attachment 2.04.11-1-56 <br />