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<br />",and kinds of wildlife are in the 9oulder area because
<br />it has plains, foothills, and :mountainous terrain that
<br />provide diverse habitat. Activities of man, primaril•r
<br />those associated with farming, ha•ra created additions:L
<br />t;rpes of habitat. The principle wildlife species in
<br />the Area are elk, deer, bear, cottontail rabbit, ~ack••
<br />rabbit, duskp grouse, mourning dove, ring-necked
<br />pheasant, and various species of avatar fowl.
<br />Sach kind of wildlife pre"ere a certain kind o° habits~t,
<br />where it can fee3, rest, sleep, breed, and rear ~ouna,
<br />Tais habitat, in turn, is dependent on s~ich factors s<<
<br />soil characteristics, toooFraoh--, vegetation, availsb-•
<br />ilit•: of ;~arshes, and lend use,
<br />In tie 3oulder Area, increasing auman population an d
<br />changes in land use, prim aril:- to accommodate man's
<br />needs °or ;arm products, have served to eliminate
<br />habitats needed b-- some kinds of wildlife. ::'ildlife
<br />that could not adapt has ;isacpeared. '?eer, eik,
<br />antelope, bison, end wild turke;:s were once or esent ir.
<br />large numbers but are now absent or occup-• a greatl?
<br />reduced ran se. ?`eer and elk still occuo~• parts of the
<br />Rock outcrop-Juget-RSller association, but bison and
<br />antelope do not.
<br />• 'sr-~ine is detrimental to so•*.e kinds of wildlli:e but
<br />bens"icial to others. The ring-necked pheasant °inds
<br />hsbitst in fields farmed ''or small gain. Tae fsrnino
<br />that creates this habitat also acts to limit numbers of
<br />pheasant. Intensive farming, burning of ditchbanks and
<br />'ence rows, and ha-ring are some practlces that hold
<br />down the number of ph eassnts. ',~aterfowl end mourning
<br />doles also use t-rain!'ields °or food end era measurably
<br />benefited.
<br />Irri.ation, especially the water reservoirs, aids water-
<br />fowl b•- providing areas where the•: can rest end "rpm
<br />which theme can fly to surrounding dr~•land and irri¢ated
<br />grainfields to eat.
<br />Encroachment by civilization progressivel? reduces big
<br />game hunting opportunities in the Rock outcrop-Juget-
<br />Ealler association. Establishment of homesites causes
<br />irreplaceable habitat losses.
<br />Small game hunting can be increased by improving habit.3t.
<br />This can be done to best advantage where small grains +are
<br />grown, notably on the Weld-Colbc, the Ascalon-Nunn-*tanter,
<br />an d. the Nunn-Heldt soil assoicationa. Some of the
<br />practices needed are creation of undiatrurbed permanent
<br />nesting areas, improvement of cover by planting_wind-
<br />breaka or similar shelter, and either ceasing or great'Ly
<br />reducing burning along fences and ditches.
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<br />it ' r1~~~'~' •i v.+~.r
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