2012-03-07_PERMIT FILE - C2010088 (19)

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Field surveys conducted in April, May and June 2010 did not detect any evidence of use by mule deer. No deer were observed and no sign including tracks, fecal pellet groups or evidence of browsing on vegetation was found. Mule deer likely occupy the habitat on a short -term basis as individuals or small groups move about the valley area. 3.1.2 Predatory Mammals 3.1.2.1 Kit Fox (State Endangered): In Colorado, kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) live in the semi - desert shrub lands extending from Montrose to Grand Junction. Kit foxes occupy sparsely - covered, semi - desert shrublands of sagebrush, saltbush, shadscale and greasewood. They spend most of their days in dens that are scattered around the landscape and which are very important for raising young and avoiding predators, such as coyote. Kit foxes generally live in small groups, digging clusters of dens with multiple entrances. The animals move from one den to another and emerge at night to hunt. The fox primarily prey on cottontail rabbits, jackrabbits and kangaroo rats, but will also eat birds, reptiles, and insects when prey is scarce. There are no records of kit fox occurring in the project area; no sign or dens were observed during field surveys. NDIS mapping indicates overall range occurs approximately 7 miles west of the project area south of 1 -70. However, kit fox likely range throughout the west Grand Valley including the desert habitat between I -70 and Bookcliffs. Most observations occur outside the irrigated portion of the Grand Valley. 3.1.2.2 River Otter (State threatened): River otter (Lontra canadensis) sign was observed during field surveys for this project in lower Reed Wash about 0.25 miles north of the confluence with the Colorado River (Figure 3, Photos 4 and 5). The sign consisted of scat (concentrated in an 8 x 8 ft area), depressed wetland vegetation (from lying down or rolling), a daybed (temporary nest) and several slides where otter exited and reentered the wash. Otters are members of the mustelid family (mink, martin, weasels, and ferret) and scat is often deposited in a concentrated location, and serves as a sent post marking an animal's territory. The several slides observed allow the otters to slip into and out of Reed Wash. One other otter slide was observed at a site 0.1 miles upstream from the main area of concentrated use (Figure 3). The river otter's status in Colorado was recently changed from endangered to threatened. Otters live in riparian habitat, where aquatic animals like crayfish, frogs, fish, young muskrats and beavers are favored foods (CDOW 2010c). Otters usually live in bank dens that are constructed in shelters provided by waterside brush, fallen logs, tree roots, embankments or abandoned beaver lodges. Dens have an underwater entrance with a tunnel leading to a nesting chamber. The otter may have permanent and temporary nests. Nests are made up of leaves, grasses, mosses, pieces of bark, and some hair. It is suspected that otter move into Reed Wash from the Colorado River and use of the drainage is part of a larger territory with the main habitat being the river corridor. The wetland habitat and fish populations in Reed Wash are large enough to provide suitable habitat for otter. Populations of otter in the Colorado River have increased since 1976 when the CDOW began a re- introduction program. 7