2008-03-12_REPORT - C1982057 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: REPORT
• Doc Date: 3/12/2008
• Doc Name: 2007 Annual Reclamation Report
• From: Seneca Coal Company
• To: DRMS
• Permit Index Doc Type: Annual Reclamation Report
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

•
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Figure 2. Mule deer density on the expanded survey area during winter aerial surveys
from 1994 through 2007.
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ar
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2.2
2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
----------------------------------------------------------- 1.92-----
O
------------------------------------- 1.54
-------------- - -- I~
---------------0.75-------------------------------_0.76 \ _
0.59 0.64
----------0.54-- ------- _~~
0.40 _0.34_-0.41 03s --0.34-
----- ~ -- ~- -0.27--
o.-OO - ,.. ~ 1 ~ ~ I-
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year
Expanded survey area: 84.5 mil (1994-1995), 89.5 mil (1996-2007).

The large increase in deer densities in 2005 and 2006 could not be exclusively explained by snow
depth, and may have reflected a change in local deer populations or regional distribution.
During aerial surveys, most mule deer have typically been observed in three distinct
portions of the survey area: the northwest (typically north and west of Seneca II-W), extreme
northeast, and extreme south central. Most deer have been associated with sloping mountain
brush habitats, but those in the south central portion of the survey area were often on steep,
exposed/relatively bare, south facing slopes. This is not unexpected as mule deer expend more
energy walking through snow than elk, and typically concentrate in areas with high quality forage
is available in conjunction with lower snow depths. In 2007, deer only occurred in the
northwestern and extreme south central portions of the survey area.
Additional animals recorded during the 2007 survey included 28 coyotes (Canis latrans),
8 golden eagles, and 2 bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalis). Although they winter along the
2007 Seneca II-W Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 7