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Expanded Survey Area <br />All wildlife observations from the aerial survey are listed in Appendix I. Big game <br />observations are also illustrated on Exhibit 1. A total of 967 elk (10.8/miZ) in 84 herds were seen <br />during the survey (Figure 1). Twenty mule deer herds (138 animals) were also observed. <br />Figure 1. Elk density on the expanded and Seneca II-W Mine areas during winter aerial <br />surveys from 1994 through 2005. <br />20 <br />15 <br />v <br />~" <br />_~ <br />W <br />d <br />L <br />~ ]0 <br />O' <br />• <br />• <br />5 <br />0 <br />1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 "" 2003 2004 2005 <br />Year <br />Expanded survey areas 84.5 mil (1994-1995), 89.5 mil (1996-2005). <br />Seneca--W survey area: 35 mil Q994-2005). <br />Page 4 <br /> <br />Elk herd size varied from 1 to 80 animals, and averaged 1 I.5 individuals. Elk were <br />widely distributed throughout the area, but were notably absent from the north central, southeast, <br />and extreme northwest portions of the expanded area {Exhibit 1). The predominant habitat types <br />in those portions of the survey area were agricultural fields, reclamation, and level grasslands. <br />Sixty-two percent (598) of the elk observed were associated with mountain brush habitat. <br />Sagebrush-grassland habitat contained 24% (236) of the elk observed. The remaining elk were <br />observed in reclaimed grassland (62), natural grassland (37), aspen (29), and fir (5) habitats. <br />2005 Seneca 14W Mine Wildlife Monitoring <br />