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DISCUSSION OF EFFECTS AND RATIONALE <br />Sensitive Species -Terrestrial Vertebrates <br />Wolverine: The status of the wolverine in Colorado is unknown at this time (CDOW 2004). The <br />CDOW has conducted surveys in the state, but have not found any definitive evidence of any <br />wolverines. Wolverines are wide ranging and occur in low densities in large roadless or isolated <br />areas. Radio-tracking studies of wolverine in northwest Montana indicate that wolverines prefer <br />rugged, relatively inaccessible mountainous area at high elevation in the summer and move to <br />lower (but still snow bound) elevations in the winter (Hornocker and Hash 1981). Wilderness or <br />remote country where human activity is limited appears to be essential for the maintenance of <br />wolverines. Based upon what is known about habitat requirements for wolverines, suitable <br />winter habitat is lacking for this species in the project area. <br />American marten: One American marten was observed in a spruce-fir stand along the Deep <br />Creek drainage. The marten inhabits late successional coniferous or mixed forests throughout <br />northern North America. Martens are most abundant in mature to old-growth true fir and spruce- <br />fir forests in the western United States. They prefer mature, mesic coniferous or mixed forests <br />with at least a 30-50- percent crown density. (Ruggerio et al. 1994). They avoid large, open areas <br />and clearings, but may use small riparian areas and meadows for foraging. They feed on a wide <br />variety of foods including squirrels, voles, mice, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insect and fruits and <br />berries (Clark, et. al. 1987) but voles are often cited as the marten's preferred food source. The <br />marten's preference for moist sites may be related to the fact that lush stands of herbaceous <br />vegetation growing at mesic sites often support large populations of voles. <br />The best marten habitat in this portion of the Gunnison Forest is contiguous stands of spruce-fir <br />found at higher elevations. In the project area there are stands along Deep Creek and a stand <br />along the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek. Only a few acres of this habitat would potentially be <br />affected by the proposed operations. The small amount of habitat disturbance would not be <br />expected to affect marten activities in the area. <br />Bald eagle: No occurrence of bald eagle has been formally documented within the proposed <br />project area. The nearest known bald eagle activity is along the North Fork of the Gunnison <br />River. Bald eagles do winter along the North Fork of the Gunnison River and in the winter could <br />possibly make foraging flights through the area searching for carrion. Winter roost site habitat <br />for bald eagle is not present within the project area. No suitable nest sites exist in the project <br />area. <br />19