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ferret signs on foot. All burrow openings were examined for signs of ferret , <br />* diggings, trench formations, scats, mammals exhibiting evidence of having been <br />killed by a ferret and freshly covered entrances. For each colony surveyed, <br />the number of prairie dogs observed, the number of burrow entrances and an <br />estimate of the size of the colony (acres) were recorded on standard field <br />data sheets. <br />WILDLIFE ORIERrED RFREATION <br />Since hunting is a principal recreational opportunity in the vicinity of the <br />study area, the extent to which this opportunity is exploited was determined <br />by first formulating a list of potentially huntable game species. This list was <br />based on a compilation of wildlife field data obtained during all field activities. <br />Criteria for identifying wildlife species in the Nucla study area as huntihle were: <br />1. Whether the species is legally a garre animal in Colorado <br />2. Whether the species occurs in sufficient numbers to attract hunters <br />3. Whether there is sufficient primary habitat within the project area to <br />support the species <br />"Hunting pressure" or exploitation of each potential garre species in the study <br />area was determined using DOW data. Game hunting and harvest data for the hunt <br />area in which the project area occurs were accessed to determine hunter use. <br />Localities receiving more hunting pressure within the hunt area were determined <br />from the available data (see Results, page 50). <br />DATA ANALYSIS <br />Computer Facilities. All quantitative data were analyzed on a Cyr 730 com- <br />puter. Data were entered on keypunch o_aids that had been double punched and <br />verified. Computer print -outs of the raw data were generated in the same format <br />as the original field data sheet to expedite the data checking process. All <br />data were permanently stored on magnetic tape to facilitate subsequent data manip- <br />ulations and checking of original. results. Data were analyzed using specially <br />developed programs and output was generated in a format that facilitated inter- <br />pretation. <br />Relative Abundance Indices. Estimates of population size for the different groups <br />of animals surveyed in the study area are provided by relative abundance indices. <br />These indices are based on percent sampling effort (e.g., # of small mammals per <br />100 trap nights) to ensure c mpa.ribility of data collected by varying sampling <br />- 1 3 - <br />. 3 U 1 -t •1 1880 <br />