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INTRODUCTION <br />Mountain Coal Company is planning on 10 years of surface disturbance activities associated <br />with their E-Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project. Prior to the winter of 2007-2008 no winter <br />wildlife surveys had been conducted in the project area. During meetings with Mountain Coal <br />Company in the fall of 2007 it was determined that as part of the planning process, it would be <br />effective to conduct winter wildlife activity surveys. These surveys would provide information <br />on species presence and habitat use over the course of winter and early spring. These surveys <br />would cover the entire area that would be affected for the 10-year mine life. The study area <br />included those lands surveyed during spring and early summer of 2007 plus additional areas. <br />The primary purpose of the study was to collect data on snowshoe hare numbers in the project <br />area through the use of track counts. Further, data was collected on tracks of other species of <br />predators that might compete with lynx for prey during winter months. <br />Another purpose of this study was to collect data on big game activity in the project area during <br />the winter. Data were collected on numbers of animals observed, where observed and habitat <br />type. The objective was to determine if there were preferred use areas where development would <br />be in direct conflict with wintering big game animals. <br />PROJECT AREA <br />The project encompassed an area of approximately 12 square miles. Land ownership in the <br />project area includes National Forest and private. Project area boundaries are shown on <br />Figure 1. <br />Within the project area there are large expanses of mature and over mature oak/mountain shrub <br />habitat. This habitat type makes up the preponderance of habitat within the project area. Aspen is <br />the second most common habitat type within the project area with a few large stands and a <br />number of stringers found throughout the area. Riparian habitat is found in all the drainages in <br />the project area. Some small stands of Spruce-fir and one small stand of Douglas-fir are found in <br />the project area. <br />In the project area there are already a number of roads and drill sites that have been constructed <br />over the years. Many of these existing roads will be used as is or upgraded during development <br />activities. Use of these existing roads will reduce the amount of habitat that will be disturbed <br />during construction activities. <br />METHODS <br />Emphasis was placed on compiling data on species present and numbers in the study area from <br />mid-December to mid-April. A total of 8 days of ground surveys were run in the area during this <br />period. Data was compiled on locations and habitat type where any of these species were <br />observed.