Laserfiche WebLink
Almost all of the elk seen (1,428) were in mountain brush habitat. A few herds were <br />• observed in aspen (31 elk), grassland (13 elk), and bottomland (7 elk). <br />In addition to elk, 8 herds of mule deer (48 animals) were seen during the survey. A <br />single coyote (Canis latrans) was seen along the western edge of the area (Exhibit 1). A flock <br />of 10 sharp-tailed grouse was seen flying over a grassy opening in mountain brush in the <br />southwest corner of the area. Raptors observed included six golden eagles and one bald eagle <br />(Haliaeetus leucocephalus). <br />PRES has surveyed the expanded area two other times; in December 1994 and January <br />1995. Observed elk density on 26 January 1996 was substantially greater than the densities <br />recorded during previous surveys (Figure 1). Snow cover in January 1996 was considerably <br />deeper than during the other surveys. Increased snow fall probably pushed more animals out of <br />the higher elevations of the Williams Fork Mountains and north into the survey area in January <br />1996. Deeper snow cover also probably increased the observers' ability to detect animals which <br />resulted in a more complete count during the January 1996 survey. The very low density <br />recorded during the December 1994 was probably a due to poor ground conditions (patchy snow <br />cover) and the use of a fixed-wing aircraft during the survey. Both of those factors affected the <br />observers' ability to detect animals and resulted in some undercounting. <br />During each of the three 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 or Seneca R-W permit areas during the surveys. <br />Seneca II Mine and 1-Mile Perimeter <br />Observations made on the 17.5-miz area that includes the Seneca II Mine permit area and <br />its 1-mile perimeter are listed in Table 1. Thirty sightings of elk were made within that area; <br />three herds (44 animals) were on the permit area and twenty-seven herds (241 animals) were in <br />the perimeter. In addition to those animals, a very large herd of 338 elk were observed just south <br />• of the 1-mile perimeter. Elk density in the 17.5-mil area around Seneca was 16.3 animals/miz. <br />1996 Seneca II Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 4 <br />