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cumulative loss of habitat for hunting will be offset by the increase That will occur <br />• in the prey base in those areas currently being reclaimed and Those to be reclaimed. <br />Some loss of nesting habitat will occur, but observations show that numbers of <br />raptors nesting in the areas to be mined are low compared to other areas. <br />Considerable suitable nesting habitat is available adjacent to the permit area. <br />Habitat will also be lost for all other species of birds using the area. The <br />significance of the loss will be dependent on the amount of available unoccupied <br />habitat adjacent to the disturbance areas and the success and speed of reclamation. <br />Because reclamation plans are designed to benefit all wildlife the discussion of <br />the plans will follow the Mammals section. <br />2.7.3.2 Mammals <br />Big Game <br />The effects of mining on elk should be minimal. Neither of the areas to be <br />mined are high-use areas for elk. The effects of mining operations -removal of <br />overburden, blasting, dust and haul traffic -which have been conducted adjacent to <br />• the aspen grove (along Center Ridge) the prime elk habitat, have had little to no <br />influence on the elk herd. <br />Unlike the elk, the does use both areas for fawning and rearing of their young. <br />Once mining occurs, habitat for this purpose will be lost until sufficient vegetative <br />cover returns on the reclaimed areas to furnish cover and food. <br />The mining of the Moffat Area will hinder the deer from reaching Trout Creek, <br />the primary water source for many of the Moffat Area animals. This should not <br />create a problem for the highly mobile does, but will affect the young fawns to an <br />unknown degree. However, this impact is expected to be short in biological time, <br />the length of time being dependent upon the rate of reclamation. Once plant <br />succession following reclamation has reached a point where adequate cover and <br />browse are available, there is expected to be an increase in the deer use of The area. <br />As pointed out in Section 2.7.2.2, considerable like habitat with low deer numbers is <br />found adjacent to the proposed disturbance areas. Because of the low number of <br />deer found on the mining areas and adjacent areas, it appears that there is enough <br />suitable habitat outside the disturbed area to support the displaced animals. <br />• Other Species <br />There will be numerous other species of mammals occurring on the areas to be <br />mined that will be affected either directly (loss of habitat) or indirectly (noise, <br />2.7-65 <br />