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• herds were seen during the survey. Three herds of mule deer (37 animals) were also observed. Four coyotes (Canis latrans) and one bobcat (Lynn rufus) were recorded in the survey area. Raptors seen included three golden eagles. Elk occurred as lone individuals and in herds of as many as 88 animals; average herd size was 11.7 animals. Elk were widely distributed over [he area, but were notably absent from the north-central and southeast edge of the area; elk were very sparse in the southwest and extreme northwest corners of the area (Exhibit 1). The predominant habitat types in thos portions of the survey area, except in the southwest, are agricultural fields and flat grasslands Only one herd was seen on the Seneca II permit area; one herd was also seen on Yoast; ao sightings were made on the Seneca II-W permit area. Ninety-five percent of the elk seen (741) were in mountain brush habitat. Rough breaks was the only other habitat that held any elk. PRES has surveyed the expanded area six times: in December 1994, and each January from 1995 through 1999. The very low density recorded during the December 1994 survey • (Figure 1) was probably due to poor ground conditions (patchy snow cover) and the use of a fixed-wing aircraft for the survey. Both of those factors affected the observers' ability to detect animals and resulted in under counting. Considerably more elk were seen a month later, January 1995, when the area was surveyed from a helicopter. Observed elk density i^ January 1996 was substantially greater than the densities recorded during previous surveys. Snowfall from the onset of winter through January 1996 was considerably greater than in othe years. Excessive snow probably pushed more animals out of the higher elevations of the Williams Fork Mountains and north into the survey area in January 1996. There was less snow fall in winters 1996-1997 and 1998-1999, and the eik density recorded those winters was very comparable to the density noted i^ 1995. Although snow fall was also minimal through January 1998, the density of elk in the area at that time was the highest ever observed. Herds were widely distributed over the survey area during each of the six surveys completed since December 1994. However, herds have always been conspicuously absent from the agricultural fields and grasslands in the northwest, north-central, and southeast parts of the area. Because there are no tall grasses or shrubs in those habitats, the vegetation is typically covered by snow in winter. Consequently, there is very little readily available wince 1999 Sencca II Minc Wildlife Monitoring Page 4 e r r