2012-01-06_PERMIT FILE - C1982057A (2)

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• lease (Figure 11-6). They were trapped at all sites except in the sagebrush type and accounted for 76 percent of the total animals captured. Deer mice were the only animals captured at the forb site and in the six additional traps set nearby. They also comprised the majority of captures in the mixed brush and rock outcrop sites. The least chipmunk was captured in all habitat types except the forb community. They comprised 16 percent of the total captures and were most common in the aspen habitat. The long-tailed vole was captured only in the sagebrush habitat while the southern red-backed vole was recorded in both the aspen and mixed brush communities. The aspen site revealed the greatest small mammal diversity of the five sites selected for sampling (Figure 11-6). Three species were captured in this habitat in contrast to three habitats which yielded only two species and the forb site which produced only one species. The rock outcrop site had the highest population (54 percent of total c aptures) of small mammals. However, all but one of the captures on that site were of deer mice. The sagebrush site had the lowest number of captures (B percent of total captures), while mi zed brush and forb types had equal captures (11 percent of total for each). The aspen • habitat accounted for 16 percent of total captures. Other small mammal species or their sign have been observed on the Seneca II-W study area. Numerous Richardson's ground squirrels (Spermophil us richardsonii) were recorded near the mouth of Hubberson Gulch. This was a breeding population as young-of-the-year were observed near the entrance to an underground burrow. Bushy-tailed woodrat (Neotoma tine rea) sign was seen in rock outcrops (sandstone bluffs) within the study area. A female western jumping mouse (Zapus pri nceps) was caught by hand near the forb vegetation reference site which is depicted on Exhibit 10-1 within the vegetation report. Burrows of the northern pocket gopher (Thomomys talpoi des) were observed in areas of deep soils within drainages in the area and aspen communities. Also, golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis) were observed throughout rocky and bushy areas of Hubberson Culch and other parts of the study area. Medium-Sized Mammals. Frequent observations of porcupine (Ere thizon dor sa tum) were recorded in all of the habitats found within the Seneca II-W study area. This mammal species was most commonly seen in the mixed brush habitat, particularly in association • with Gambel oak. 17