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(2.4.3.4 Lagomorphs <br />The cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus nuttallii and Sylvilagus audubonii) and <br />white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) are year-around residents of the <br />proposed mine plan area. The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanas) may occur <br />within the area but no sightings have been made to confirm this possibility. <br />Lagomorph populations will be affected by mining activities through the tempo- <br />rary loss of habitat. This loss is expected to be of short duration as popu- <br />lations are expected to make a rapid recovery in reclaimed areas due to shrub <br />transplants and use of native species. If anything, Lagomorphs may be too suc- <br />cessful in reclaimed areas and may require control to avoid excessive depreda- <br />tion of young transplants. <br />2.4.3.5 Antelope <br />Ecology Consultants, Inc. (1972) reported sighting two antelope (Antilocapra <br />americana) within the proposed mine plan area. No sightings were made again <br />until the winter of 1982-83. During this severe winter, several small herds <br />were forced onto the northwest portion of the mine land area from their normal <br />winter ranges to the north. Some of these animals remained, resulting in a <br />resident herd exceeding fifty animals. Use, however, is restricted to the <br />northwest corner of the mine plan area. <br />Major antelope habitat is well away from the existing mine plan area. More- <br />over, antelope are not indigenous to Trapper Mine. Therefore, correspondence <br />has been filed with the Colorado Division of Wildlife to obtain assistance in <br />managing and controlling, or eliminating, this "new" population. <br />2.4.3.6 Black Bear <br />A single black bear (Ursus americanus) was reported in 1971 (Ecology Consult- <br />ants, Inc. 1972). No further data is available on this species within the <br />mine plan area and adjacent areas. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1978) <br />_ described the nearest black bear habitat as terminating well to the south and <br />east of the mine area, in Routt and White River National Forests. The mine <br />2-163 REVISION <br />APPROVED <br />? ?? ?' <br />DATE-1-J