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occurring in all habitat types on the study area during October, 1979. The <br />results of the scent - station survey and the corresponding indices of rela- <br />tive abundance are presented in Appendix B, Part 3 and summarized in Table <br />3, For comparative purposes, the results of two federally - surveyed lines <br />conducted by United States Fish and Wildlife Service (CSFWS) in 1978 are <br />presented in Table 4. The 1979 results of the surveyed lines are not avail- <br />able. <br />Scent-station results indicate that the coyote is the most abundant mam- <br />malian predator in the vicinity of the Nucla Comparison of the <br />scent - station data with the results of the federal lines indicate that coyote <br />populations in the vicinity of the Nucla mine were well below the 1978 <br />state and regional averages. <br />The coyote occurs throughout Colorado, from the eastern plains through the <br />central mountains to the western border. Some of the largest coyote popu- <br />lations occur in the southeast region, of the state (personal communication, <br />March 1980, Ban Balser, Colorado Wildlife Research Unit). Rodents and <br />rabbits are the main items of diet, but they may depend on berries, carrion, <br />game animals, and domestic sheep in certain circumstances and at certain <br />times of the year. <br />A species of fox was the second most abundant predator encountered at scent - <br />stations in the vicinity of the stud_: area. Although different species of <br />foxes are difficult if not impossible to distinguish on the basis of tracks, <br />it is believed that the fox encountered in the Nucla area was the red fox, <br />although gray foxes were encountered on the nearby federally - surveyed line. <br />Red foxes are secretive animals and are very rarely seen; none were seen <br />by M H's field personnel.' However, interviews with local residents and <br />D0W personnel (Rick Sherman) indicate that the red fox is the one nest <br />commonly observed in the area. In any case, foxes appear to be quite <br />common in the area as the fox index as determined from scent- station data <br />was above that recorded for the gray fox on the nearby survey line and the <br />state averages for both the gray fox and red fox. Both foxes eat a variety <br />of animals and plants including mammals, birds, reptiles, . h biers, insects, <br />eaxthlm:wmi , berries, grasses and forks (Ler:hleitner 1969) . <br />-41- <br />JUN i 8 1980 <br />