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• 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 previ <br />surveys. Snowfall from the onset of winter through January 1996 was considerably great <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 lanuar <br />1997 was very comparable to the density noted in 1995. Although snow fall was also mimm <br />through January 1998, the density of elk in the area at that time was the highest ever reco <br />Apparently, the local elk population has increased in recent years. <br />During each of the five surveys completed since December 1994, herds were wide <br />distributed over the survey area, but were conspicuously absent from the agricultural field <br />and grasslands in the northwest, north-central, and southeast parts of the area. Because th <br />are no tall grasses or shrubs in those habitats, the vegetation is typically covered by snow <br />winter. Consequently, there is very little readily available winter forage for big game in t <br />parcels of the survey area. Few herds have been seen on either the Seneca II or Seneca II <br />permit areas during the surveys; more herds have been observed on Yoast. <br />Yoast Mine and 1-Mile Perimeter <br />ous <br />er <br />Y <br />' al <br />rded. <br />ly <br />s <br />ere <br />in <br />hose <br />_~y <br />Table 1 lists observations made on the Yoast permit aera, 1-mile perimeter and haul <br />road corridor (21.4mi2). Twenty-one elk sightings were made within that area; 7 herds (121 <br />animals) were on the permit area and 14 herds (215 animals) were in the perimeter. Elk <br />density in the area around Yoast was 15.7 animals/miZ. That was 11 % greater than the density <br />on the expanded survey area. In addition to elk, two golden eagles and one bald eagle were <br />recorded in the vicinity of Yoast on 24 January. <br />As in the expanded area, the vast majority of elk (70%) seen in the Yoast area were in <br />mountain brush habitat. Sagebrush-grassland was the only other habitat that held a substantial <br />proportion (29%) of the elk seen. A group of four elk were seen in an aspen stand. During <br />all previous surveys, elk have been far more abundant in mountain brush than any other <br />habitat. <br /> <br />1998 Yoast Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 5 <br />