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Elk: Elk populations within the analysis area move seasonally to and from higher to lower <br />elevation habitat. Shifts in distribution and habitat use patterns occur as a result of elevational <br />migration in response to snow cover. However, observations of elk during this and other studies <br />indicate that a few elk probably remain in the area year around. <br />Although cows with calves were observed, no elk production areas were specifically identified in <br />the project area. These cows and calves were observed in aspen and mountain shrub in the Dry <br />Fork and Deep Creek drainages. There are several hundred acres in the area elk could use for <br />calving habitat. There are also large expanses of suitable calving habitat at higher elevations in <br />the forest. <br />An unknown number of acres of habitat will be disturbed by road and well site construction. <br />Habitat in this area is aspen and mountain shrub of which there are several thousand acres. When <br />considering total amount of year around habitat in the area available to elk, loss of very small <br />amount of habitat means there is little chance elk will be adversely affected by the project. In <br />addition, the area already receives a high amount of human activity from early summer through <br />late fall. Thus, elk in the area have habituated to the presence of vehicular and human activity <br />and the noise associated with both. <br />Abert's Squirrel: The Project Area does not provide any suitable habitat for Abert's squirrels. <br />There is no suitable habitat within miles of the project area. <br />American marten: American marten were discussed in the sensitive species section of this <br />report. <br />Northern goshawk: Northern goshawk was discussed in the sensitive species section of this <br />report. <br />Brewer's sparrow: Brewer's sparrow was discussed in the sensitive species section of this <br />report. <br />Merriam's wild turkey: Males and hens with broods were observed in the Deer, Dry Fork and <br />Deep Creek drainages. Turkeys have also been observed in these areas in the past. Over the past <br />three years observations indicate that numbers of the birds in the project area are increasing <br />annually. There are large expanses of suitable habitat for these birds within the project area that <br />will not be affected by road and pad construction. It is not expected that turkey numbers and their <br />activities will be affected by operations in the E-Seam project area. <br />Red-naped sapsucker: Red-naped sapsuckers were commonly observed in mature and dying <br />aspen stands throughout the project area. These birds were observed in all aspen stands in the <br />area and have been observed in aspen stands throughout the North Fork Valley. A few of these <br />birds were observed where there is a mix of spruce-fir-aspen along the Deep Creek drainage. and <br />in oakbrush dominated mountain shrub communities. <br />10