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• recorded during the December 1994 survey was probably a due to poor ground conditions (patchy <br />snow cover) and the use of a fixed-wing aircraft for the survey. Both of those factors affected the <br />observers' ability to detect animals and resulted in undercounting. Observed elk density on 26 <br />January 1996 was substantially greater than the densities recorded during any other survey. <br />Snowfall from the onset of winter through January 1996 was considerably greater than other <br />years. Excessive snow probably pushed more animals out of the higher elevations of the Williams <br />Fork Mountains and north into the survey area in January 1996. <br />During each of the four surveys completed since December 1994, herds were widely <br />distributed over the entire survey area, but were conspicuously absent from the agricultural fields <br />and grasslands in the north-central part of the area. Because there are no tall grasses or shrubs <br />in those habitats, the vegetation is typically covered by snow in winter. Consequently, there is <br />very little winter forage for big game in that part of the survey area. Few herds have been seen <br />on either the Seneca II-W or Seneca II permit areas during the surveys; more elk have been <br />observed on Yoast. <br />Seneca II-W Mine and Perimeter <br />Observations made on the 35-miz area that includes the Seneca II-W Mine permit area and <br />its perimeter are listed in Table 1. Thirty~ight sightings of elk were made within that area; none <br />of the herds were on the permit area. Elk density in the 35-miz area around Seneca II-W was 8.1 <br />animals/miz. That was slightly higher than the density on the expanded survey area (Figure 1). <br />In addition to elk, 33 mule deer (6 herds), 3 coyotes, 3 golden eagles, and 1 bald eagle were seen <br />in the Seneca II-W area (Exhibit 1). <br />As in the larger survey area, the vast majority of the ell: seen (237) around the Seneca II- <br />W Mine were in mountain brush habitat. All of the other elk seen (46) were in rough breaks. <br />Most of the elk seen during all previous surveys were also in mountain brush. <br />Elk density in the vicinity of Seneca II-W during the December 1994 and January 1995 <br />surveys was less than the density recorded in the expanded survey area (Figure 1). In both 1996 <br />and 1997, however, elk density in the Seneca II-W area was somewhat greater than in the <br />• expanded area (Figure 1). <br />1997 Seneca II-W Mine Wildlife Monitoring page 5 <br />