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All of the elk seen Seneca II-W Mine were in mountain brush habitat. Mule deer were <br />observed in mountain brush and rough break habitats (Table 1). The vast majority of elk seen <br />during each surveys completed since 1994 were in mountain brush. <br />Elk density in the vicinity of Seneca II-W was not consistently higher or lower than the <br />density recorded in the expanded area during all surveys completed since December 1994 <br />(Figure 1). The flat grasslands and agricultural fields in the northwest corner of the perimeter <br />around Seneca II-W are usually snow-covered and hold few elk. The scarcity of elk in the <br />northwest part of the survey area tends to reduce the overall density of elk around Seneca II- <br />W. Other portions of the Seneca II-W survey area support elk at densities comparable to those <br />seen over the expanded survey area. <br />UPLAND GAME BIItDS <br />A potential sharp-tailed grouse lek was found just south of the Seneca II-W haul road, <br />between the facilities and pit, in NW'/a SW'/a Section 22, TSN, R87W on 29 April. On that <br />day, four sharp-tailed grouse (2 males, 1 female, and 1 unknown) were flushed from a grassy <br />• knoll that is bisected by the road. Prior to being flushed, the birds were heard making lek <br />sounds (i.e. dancing, cooing and, clucking). The surrounding habitat was sagebrush-grassland <br />with a moderate scattering of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). Additional observations of <br />grouse at the Section 22 location are needed before the site can be classified as a viable lek. <br />Two male blue grouse (Dendragapus obscures) were also seen displaying atop the / <br />berm along the Seneca ll-W haul road in SW~/a Section 22 on 29 April. The blue grouse were / <br />very near the site were the sharp-tailed grouse were dancing. <br />GOLDEN EAGLE NESTING <br />Three golden eagle nests have been found proximate to each other on cliffs above <br />Hubberson Gulch in Sections 16 and 21, TSN, R88W; approximately 0.75 miles west of the <br />Seneca II-W Mine permit boundary (Exhibit 1). The nests are in a single golden eagle <br />territory. An adult was seen flying over the nest cliff on 25 April, but none of the nests were <br />active. <br />• <br />1998 Se¢eca U-W Mice Wildlife Mo¢ilori¢g Page 8 <br />