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~' 61ack-(Doted Ferret Report Daze Flats Project <br />' surveyed on foot. <br />Each survey crew leader was issued a map outlining their survey area and recommended <br />vehicular and pedestrian routes. Routes were mapped on 1:400 scale maps as they were <br />initially conducted. Slight route variations between replications were not separately mapped. <br />' Routes were not flagged prior to surveys because of the relatively flat terrain, linearity of <br />survey areas, abundance of landmarks to orient by, and the familiarity of 2 of 3 survey crew <br />' leaders with the study area. Distances of pedestrian and vehicular transect routes were <br />measured from original field maps with a map wheel. Start and finish times of each <br />' replication were recorded along with vehicular and pedestrian survey time. Each crew had <br />a portable radio, camera, and pin flags, and all crew members had binoculars and/or spotting <br />scopes. Wildlife detected during surveys were recorded in each survey area each night along <br />' with starting and ending times of each replication. Batteries were recharged between nights. <br /> <br />' S.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION <br />S.1 DIURNAL SURVEYS <br />' During the December 1 to March 31 window during which diurnal ferret surveys can be <br />conducted (USFWS 1989), survey conditions were suitable For only 1 of 3 required <br />replications. Surveys scheduled following December 16, February 11 and 22, and March 8 <br />and 27 snowfalls were all aborted because by the time 24 hours had passed following the <br />' precipitation event, warm ground and/or air temperatures, sunshine, and/or winds had <br />degraded survey conditions to unsuitability. These conditions are common along the Front <br />' Range in winter. Unreliable survey conditions make the diurnal protocol problematic in this <br />area. <br />' One diurnal replication was successfully completed on January 27, 1994. Tracking conditions <br />were excellent with 2-4 in. of snow (> 24 hrs. old), calm winds, 96% cloud cover, and a 0721 <br />' starting temperature of 28°F. Temperatures increased to 39°F, with 100% cloud cover, by <br />the end of the survey and tracking conditions deteriorated slightly, but overall tracking <br />conditions were excellent. Figure 3 illustrates 0721-1535 hours survey coverage by the 3 <br />person crew, totalling 17 hours, 13 minutes. Survey transects totalled 27.01 miles, 7.05 miles <br />by vehicle and 19.96 miles on foot. Occupied prairie dog habitat totalled 1,348.9 acres in <br />' the valley, 960.0 acres within the permit area, and 294.6 acres within the entire mine impact <br />area. No evidence of any ferrets or mustelids, other than badger tracks, were detected. If <br />' Western Ecosystems, Inc. $ November, 1994 <br />