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• RFSLn.TS AND DISCUSSION <br />BIG GAME <br />The sky was partly cloudy during the 30 January aerial survey. Although no snow had <br />fallen in the days itrlmediately preceeding the survey, the area was covered with a uniform blanket <br />of snow. Snow depth was approximately one-three feet over the entire area. Because the snow <br />cover was so extensive, visibility was rated as excellent during the survey. <br />Expanded Survey Area <br />A complete listing of all observations made during the aerial survey is given in Appendix <br />I. All sightings are also plotted on Exhibit 1. A total of 676 elk (7.6 animals/mil) were seen <br />during the survey. Of the 95 elk sightings made, slightly more that half consisted of individuals <br />or groups of less than five animals. Herds of six to ten elk made up about a quarter of the <br />sightings. The remaining observations were of herds of more than ten elk; the largest herd <br />observed consisted of 36 animals. Average herd size was 7.1 animals. <br />Elk were widely distributed over the entire survey area on 30 January, but were notably <br />absent from the north-central part of the area, and along the extreme northwest and southeast <br />edges of the area (Exhibit 1). Those parts of the survey area are covered by agricultural fields <br />and flat grasslands that often are covered by deep snow. No herds were seen on the Seneca II-W <br />permit area; only one herd was seen on the Seneca permit area; and five were on Yoast. <br />Eighty-three percent of the elk seen (564) were in mountain brush habitat. Rough breaks <br />was the only other habitat the held a substantial percentage (15 %) of the elk seen. A few herds <br />were observed in grassland (6 elk), reclaimed grassland (5 elk), and fir (1 elk). <br />In addition to elk, 12 herds of mule deer (67 animals) were seen during the survey. Seven <br />coyotes (Canis latrans) were seen, including a pack of four that had surrounded a cow and two <br />elk calves. Alone red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was spotted in the east central part of the area near the <br />Seneca Mine permit boundary (Exhibit 1). Seven golden eagles and one bald eagle (Haliaeetus <br />leucocephalus) were also seen. <br />PRES has surveyed the expanded azea three other times; in December 1994, and January <br />• 1995 and 1996. Results from the 1995 and 1997 surveys were very similar (Figure 1). In <br />contrast, results from the 1994 and 1996 surveys were quite divergent. The very low density <br />1997 Seneca li-W Mine Wildlife Monitoring page 3 <br />