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• Spotted Owl in the assessment areas in unknown. Given the marginal suitability of <br />habitat in the assessment <br />areas and the paucity of documented occurrences of this species in west-central <br />Colorado either historically or during recent survey efforts, it is unlikely that the Mexican <br />spotted owl occupies the assessment area. <br />The bald eagle, a recently designated endangered species, is likely to occur within <br />the boundaries of the lease area, especially for brief periods during the winter period. None <br />were observed within the lease boundaries during the fieldtrips (one observation of a bald <br />eagle was made approximately 3KM (5 miles). east of the town of Loma, Colorado, during <br />January, 1978). Bald eagles wintering along the Colorado River in western Colorado will <br />frequently hunt in areas ecologically similar to the habitat found within the lease area, <br />although their preferred habitat in this region is along the riparian zone of the Colorado River. <br />Black-footed ferrets are unlikely to occur within the lease area, since there are no <br />prairie dogs or large populations of ground squirrels to provide suitable food source. <br />According to the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the greater sandhill crane (a State <br />designated endangered species) is seen on occasion approximately 20 miles south of the <br />lease area near the Colorado River. Although this species could occur within the lease area <br />for brief periods during its migration, this seems unlikely because of the lack of suitable <br />sandhill crane habitat in the immediate area. <br />4.6.9 Site Utilization <br />Riparian areas in and near-the lease site constitute the most important wildlife habitat <br />of the area. Considerable degradation to these areas has occurred historically due to diverse <br />causes over a number of years in conjunction with agricultural uses of the area. Those areas <br />that have open water and a dense stand of vegetation are the most important. Locally <br />significant displacement of small game <br />• <br />RN-05 4-52 09/07 <br />