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Mule deer were not observed in any significant numbers during the period of studies. There were <br />no specific areas where most deer were observed. They were observed during the period of the <br />studies and in all habitat types. During surveys the last two winters no deer were observed in the <br />• E-Seam study area. Diamond (CDOW) has not observed any deer wintering in the E-Seam area <br />during winter classification surveys for several years. These observations indicate there is no <br />winter range in the E-Seam area where roads and pads will be constructed. <br />No moose were observed in the project area during the surveys. One young bull moose was <br />observed crossing over the ridge between Two Ponds and the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek in <br />May 2008. This was the only time a moose has been observed during surveys in the area. Other <br />evidence of their presence was observed during surveys in both 2008 and 2009. <br />Several black bears were observed during the surveys and there was considerable evidence of <br />black bear activity found throughout the study area. The black bear population in the North Fork <br />Valley is high and continues to grow. Observations over the years indicate that development <br />activities in this and other mine and natural gas project areas in the North Fork drainage have not <br />been a deterrent to their movements and habitat utilization. <br />When evaluating potential effects on big game habitat use from proposed development activities <br />two things must be considered; (1) numbers of animals that might use the area for winter or <br />transition range and (2) total amount of habitat available. Based upon observations made during <br />these and prior years surveys, deer and especially elk numbers are low from spring through fall <br />in the project area. In the winter most animals are found below where most development activity <br />will occur. Observations in the area since the Deer Creek Shaft, road and pad construction, well <br />drilling and monitoring have been ongoing indicate that these activities have not affected deer <br />and elk seasonal habitat use in the area. Considering the amount of suitable habitat available <br />throughout the area from spring through fall transition periods, there should be little affect on <br />either deer or elk activity. <br />NEOTROPICAL BIRDS <br />Birds observed, other than listed species and raptors, were what would be expected in the various <br />habitat types found in the project area. A total of 72 species were observed while conducting <br />transects or as opportunistic observations -Appendix A. In May there were numerous species of <br />migrating birds observed in the study area. By June numbers of those species declined as they <br />• had moved on through the area. In June birds that breed in the area were observed almost <br />exclusively. <br />As is commonly found when conducting bird studies, there are preferred habitat types within any <br />study area. In addition, there are birds that are habitat generalists and others that have specific <br />habitat requirements. As shown by the data collected for this project the greatest diversity of <br />birds was found in aspen and Gamble oak/mountain shrub habitat. Riparian habitat typically has <br />the highest diversity and density of birds and would probably have been higher had there been <br />more diverse riparian habitat in the study area. Riparian habitat was limited and lacked the <br />vegetation typically found in riparian areas where density and diversity of birds is higher. The <br />14