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.i:~ ohs in those habitats, the vegetation is typically cuvercd by snow in winter. Consequenth <br />• il~~ i, is little readily av:+ilahlr winter tittage fur big game in those portions o1 the sun•cy area <br />lcncr.+ II \line :rod One-\lilc Ycrimctcr <br />t tit,, n a:itvt, made on the 1' ~ mi' area drat includes the Seneca II Mine permit area and <br />its perin+etcr are listed in :\ppendi~ L :u+d illustrate) un [ixhibit I . \ineteen elk herds (1'_ I <br />individuals) were observed in the Seneca I I area. I\vo herds (1 K animals 1 were on the pcnnit <br />area and 17 herds 11(1 ~ animalsl were in the perimeter. I:Ik density in the area around Seneca II <br />..as G.N anim:dsmi', only slightly lower than that un dtr expanded survey area. Nu other <br />animals were observed in the ~ icinity• of Sen~Ya II during the aerial suncy. <br />\II elk ahservcd were in mountain brush habitat I:\ppendix Il. Elk were recorded in <br />reclaimed grassland at the Seneca II Mine during the December I')t)~. and January _'000 surveys. <br />but none .verc observed in that habitat during other surveys. lak likely avoid grassland habiu»s <br />Ircclaimed or otherwise) when deep snow makes titrtgc Icss accessible. Reclaimed grassland <br />. ,. ~~ ~ ,! ,~ more attractive to elk during other seasons. <br />• ' >uring most surveys completed since December 1 y94, elk density in the vicinity of <br />~.,- ~, ~ I I hats bccn greater than the density recorded in the expanded survey area (Figure I 1 1T+e <br />cu,»bination of topographic fauures and habitats apparently make the Seneca II area slightly <br />more attractive to elk th:m other ponicros of the expanded area. <br />I he tk; liar ~ J c ~~lumhian sharp-toile.! grouse in Colorado has bccn attributed to the loss <br />and degr:ulatiun of notice gr.+sslat+d, sagehn+sh grassland, and mountain brush habitats. It has <br />been recognized that post-mining reclamation provides suitable habitat fur lek sites. nesting, and <br />brood rearing. Rcclamatiun at Seneca II boasts two kks. <br />l he Seneca a I Ick was active tier the seventh consecutive year in '_001. "thirty-eight <br />grouse were flushed from the Ick on 6 \4ay. prior to hushing the birds, a minimum of_7 m:des <br />and three females were idemiticJ I fable I ). fall grass made it impossible n+ get a complete <br />.~nnrt of grouse without Iluannt the htrds. Plush counts nn hvo mornings revealed more grouse <br />'Irri.,~u'~: ~~.~ i.:~r:..' ..~ ti :~~ ,,ir:'~,I ~~h.ri~„iii,~~r. I L~ , .~'~ ~_ci ;.ri ! n:,~'~. .~ii:i. li~, 'L. <br />'uu I ~eneen II dine UIIJIiIi Vonitnnng PJ$C b <br />