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Baseline Technical Report <br />ARCADIS Report for Soils and Biological <br />Resources, MLE2 Project Area <br />4. WILDLIFE RESOURCES <br />ARCADIS conducted an inventory of wildlife habitats and species within the survey <br />area in conjunction with evaluating vegetation communities from July 29 to 21, 2011. <br />Important observations are shown on Figure 4 -1 and discussed in detail below. <br />4.1 Big Game <br />Prior to visiting the survey area, existing baseline information indicated that the <br />Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis) is the most abundant big game species <br />within the survey area. CDOW habitat mapping (2011) indicates that the area <br />provides summer and overall ranges, while crucial winter range is found two to five <br />miles northeast of the survey area. Elk sign (primarily pellet groups) was observed on <br />several occasions throughout the survey area, particularly in aspen dominated <br />woodlands, open conifer dominated woodlands, and dense conifer dominated <br />woodlands. <br />CDOW habitat mapping (2011) indicates that the survey area provides summer and <br />overall ranges for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), with some crucial winter range <br />just south of Sections 1 and 6. Mule deer sign in the form of pellets was observed on <br />several occasions, throughout all vegetation communities, in the survey area during <br />the wildlife inventory. A female and two young mule deer were also observed <br />foraging on the understory of an aspen dominated woodland in Section 1. In addition, <br />two young bucks were observed foraging on the understory of a coniferous forest in <br />the northern finger of Section 6. These individuals were foraging in the near vicinity <br />of noisy road -work, which may indicate their adaptability to human disturbance. <br />Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) do not generally occur within the District, but areas <br />of bighorn sheep overall and winter ranges are found several miles to the northeast <br />and southwest (CDOW 2011). No bighorn sheep, sign of bighorn sheep, or habitat <br />suitable for this species was observed in the survey area. <br />The survey area is part of black bear (Ursus americanus) overall range, and is also <br />designated a human /bear conflict area (CDOW 1997). The conflict area is that <br />portion of the overall range where two or more confirmed black bear complaints per <br />season were received which result in CDOW investigation, damage to persons or <br />property, and /or removal of the problem bear(s). Black bear sign in the form of scat <br />was observed on several occasions in aspen- dominated woodlands as well as <br />open /dense conifer dominated woodlands. <br />CCV Baseline Soils Biology Resource Report (11- 17- 11).doc 16 <br />