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• were also observed. Additional animals recorded included: nine sharp-tailed grouse, three coyotes (Canis latrans), three bobcats (Lynx nrfusJ, two golden eagles, and one bald eagle (Hnliaeetus leucocephalus). Elk occurred as lone individuals and in herds of as many as 137 animals; average herd size was 17.9 animals. Elk were widely distributed over the 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 I). The predominant habitat types in those portions of the survey area, except in the southwest, are agricultural fields and flat grasslands. Three herds were observed on the Seneca II permit area, two herds were seen on Yoast, and no elk were recorded on the Seneca 11-W permit area. Ninety-eight percent of the elk seen (668) were in mountain brush habitat. A few elk were also seen in sagebrush-grassland (7) and reclaimed grassland (4). PRES has surveyed the expanded area seven times: in December 1994, each January from 1995 through 1998, and in February 1999 and 2000. 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 [o 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 in 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 other 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. Both snowpack and elk density were relatively low during surveys in 1997, 1999, and 2000. Although snow fall was also minimal during winter 1997-1998, the density of elk in the area during January 1998 was the second highest ever observed. Herds were widely distributed over the expanded area during each of the seven surveys. 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, [he vegetation is typically covered by snow in winter. Consequently, there is little readily available winter forage for big game in those 2000 Yoas~ Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 4