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.. ~ ~ - . <br />.~-~ ._ <br />As shown on Table 3. elk use at the southern end of the property has <br />remained high throughout the study period. Of greater interest in <br />the better cow:calf ratios observed within this area in 1982 as <br />compared to the surrounding areas (100:60 vs. 100:44). This was also <br />noted in the study being performed by biologists at the Colorado <br />Yampa Coal Company (CYCC), The reason for this, whether it be <br />observability bias (animals more readily observed on reclaimed lands) <br />or actually better ratios cannot be determined at this time. <br />Additional data collection on claving, in future years, should enable <br />P8M to determine if in fact the reclaimed areas are enhancing calving <br />and rearing activities. As biologists from the Division of Wildlife <br />are well aware, the high use of reclaimed areas by elk 1s commonly <br />documented on most mine sites in northwest Colorado. <br />In summary, it has been found during the course of baseline studies and <br />monitoring that: (1) there is little use of the area by wintering <br />animals, (2) no key wintering areas occur on or near the Edna Mine <br />property, (3) the Moffat area is used by deer for fawning, but not by <br />elk for calving, (4) the undisturbed aspen grove at the south end of <br />the property is an important elk calving ground, (5) considerable <br />suitable habitat for fawning exists adjacent to the Moffat area, and <br />(6) there is a positive response by both deer and elk to the forage <br />available on the reclaimed lands. <br />JH/md <br />4/zi/83 <br />Page 7 <br />