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Additional animals recorded included seven coyotes (Canis latrans). Elk herds ranged in size from I to 38 animals, and averaged 11.3 individuals. Elk were widely distributed throughout the area, but were notably absent from the north central, southeast, and extreme northwest portions of the expanded area (Exhibit 1). The predominant habitat types in those portions of the survey area were agricultural fields, reclamation, and flat grasslands. Ninety-five percent (1107) of the elk observed were associated with mountain brush habitat. The remaining elk (55) were observed in sagebrush-grassland habitat. TWC has surveyed the expanded area ten times: December 7994, each January from 1995 through 1998, each February from 1999 through 2002, and March of 2003. Elk densities in the expanded area ranged from 1.9 to 16.5 elk/miz during 1994-2003. With the exception of four years (1994, 1996, 1998, and 2003), elk densities in the expanded area have remained relatively constant, ranging between 7.3 to 8.8 elk/mi2 (Figure 1). The low density recorded during the December 1994 survey was likely due to poor ground conditions (patchy snow cover) and The use of a fixed-wing aircraft for the survey. These factors likely affected the observers' ability to detect animals and resulted in under counting. Considerably more elk were observed a month later, January 1995, when the area was surveyed from a helicopter. The high elk densities observed in 1996 and 2003 were likely influenced by excessive snowpack during those years in the higher elevations of the Williams Fork Mountains. The deep snow likely pushed the ungulates out of the higher elevations and north into the survey area where reduced snow depths made walking easier and forage more accessible. The elevated density observed in January 1998 of 14.2 elk/mil could not be explained by snow depth, as snowfall was minimal during winter 1997-1998. Herds were widely distributed over the expanded area during each of the ten surveys. However, herds were always conspicuously absent from the agricultural fields and grasslands in the northwest, north-central, and southeast parts of the area. Because there were no tall grasses or shrubs in those habitats, the vegetation was typically covered by snow during winter. Consequently, there was little readily available winter forage for big game in those portions of the survey area. A total of 30 mule deer in six herds were observed within the expanded survey area in . 2003. Mule deer herds ranged in size from 1 to 15 animals, and averaged 5 individuals. Mule 2003 Yoast Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 5