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survey (Figure 1) was probably due to poor ground conditions (patchy snow cover) and the <br />use of a fixed-wing aircraft for the survey. Both of those factors affected the observers' <br />ability to detect animals and resulted i^ under counting. Considerably more elk were seen a <br />month later, January 1995, when the area was surveyed from a helicopter. Observed elk <br />density in January 1996 was substantially greater than the densities recorded during previous <br />surveys. Snowfall from the onset of winter through January 1996 was considerably greater <br />than in other years. Excessive snow probably pushed more animals out of the higher <br />elevations of the Williams Fork Mountains and north into the survey area in January 1996. <br />There was less snow fall in winter 1996-1997, and the density of elk in the area in January <br />1997 was very comparable to the density noted in 1995. Although snow fall was also minimal <br />through January 1998, the density of elk in the area at that time was the highest ever recorded. <br />Apparently, the local elk population has increased in recent years. <br />During each of the five surveys completed since December 1994, herds were widely <br />distributed over the survey area, but were conspicuously absent from the agricultural fields <br />and grasslands in the northwest, north-central, and southeast parts of the area. Because there <br />• are no tall grasses or shrubs in those habitats, the vegetation is typically covered by snow in <br />winter. Consequently, there is very little readily available winter forage for big game in those <br />parcels of the survey area. Few herds have been seen on either the Seneca II or Seneca II-W <br />permit areas during the surveys; more herds have been observed on Yoast. <br />Seneca II-W Mine and Perimeter <br />Observations made on the 35-miZ area that includes the Seneca II-W Mine permit area <br />and its perimeter aze listed in Table 1. Thirty-nine sightings of elk were made within that <br />area; two herds (12 animals) was on the permit area and 37 herds (402 animals) were in the <br />perimeter. Elk density in the area around Seneca II-W was 11.8 animals/mil. That was 17% <br />less than the density on the expanded survey area. In addition to elk, 20 mule deer (3 herds), <br />1 coyote, one golden eagle, and one bald eagle were recorded in the vicinity of Seneca ^-W <br />on 24 January. <br />• <br />1998 Seneca ll-W Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 4 <br />