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WILDLIFE RESOURCES AssEssm EATT <br />MORTON LAKES PROPERTY <br />WELD COUNTY, COLORADO <br />• function (Power et al. 1996). Prairie dogs can contribute to overall landscape <br />heterogeneity, affect nutrient cycling, and provide nest sites and shelter for wildlife <br />(Whicker and Detling 1988). Species such as black-footed ferret, burrowing owl, prairie <br />rattlesnake, and mountain plover are closely linked to prairie dog burrow systems for <br />food and/or cover. Prairie dogs also provide an important prey resource for numerous <br />predators including American badger, coyote, red fox, bald eagle, golden eagle, <br />ferruginous hawk, and other raptors. Prairie dogs also can denude the surface by clipping <br />aboveground vegetation and contributing to exposed bare ground by digging up roots <br />(Kuford 1958; Smith 1967). No prairie dog colony is currently located within the <br />proposed project area. No action is necessary regarding the black-tailed prairie dog. <br />Swift Fax <br />Species Background <br />The swift fox is a state species of special concern. The distribution of swift fox <br />includes the grasslands of the Great Plains including eastern Colorado (Fitzgerald et al. <br />1994). Den sites are usually located on sites dominated by native shortgrass prairie <br />species such as blue grama and buffalograss. The swift fox is sometimes associated with <br />prairie dog towns, although they generally excavate their own dens (Fitzgerald et al. <br />1994). <br />Potential Habitat and Possible Effects <br />The project area does not support native shortgrass prairie habitat that the swift fox <br />typically favors and is outside of the potential range of the species as mapped by CDOW <br />(NDIS 2008). The proposed project would not impact the swift fox. <br />Bald Eagle <br />Species Background <br />The bald eagle is a state threatened species. The bald eagle has a historical <br />distribution throughout most of the U.S. As a result of population declines attributed to <br />habitat loss, the use of organochlorine pesticides, and mortality from shooting, the bald <br />eagle was listed as an endangered species in 1978 (Buehler 2000; 43 FR 6233 [February <br />14, 1978]). Since its listing, the bald eagle population has been increasing (Buehler <br />2000). The bald eagle was downlisted from endangered to threatened in 1995 (64 FR <br />es <br />FRO <br />. 11 R <br />Resources <br />Corporation